Rhode Island Lease Agreement: What to Include
June 22, 2025A Rhode Island residential lease should reflect the state's specific rules on security deposits, entry notice, late fees, and disclosures — a generic template often misses the details below.
Security deposit
Security deposit limit: 1 month rent. Interest requirement: No. Deposits are generally expected back within 20 days of move-out, with an itemized list of any deductions.
Entry notice and late fees
Entry notice: 48 hours. Late fees: No statewide fixed cap; should be reasonable and stated in lease. Rent increase notice for month-to-month tenancies: 30; 60 for tenants age 62+ in some contexts.
Required disclosures
A Rhode Island lease should include or accompany:
- • Federal lead-based paint
- • housing code/rental registry/lead certificate where applicable
Eviction notice
For nonpayment of rent, Rhode Island generally requires: 5 after rent 15 days late. Confirm the current specific requirement before relying on it for an actual notice.
The bottom line
See LeasePilot HQ's full Rhode Island landlord-tenant law summary for the complete breakdown with sources, or generate a lease with Rhode Island-specific clauses built in automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can I charge as a security deposit in Rhode Island?
1 month rent. Confirm current specifics before setting a deposit amount.
How much notice do I need to evict a tenant for nonpayment in Rhode Island?
5 after rent 15 days late. Notice requirements can change, so confirm the current statute before filing.
What disclosures does Rhode Island require in a lease?
At minimum: Federal lead-based paint, housing code/rental registry/lead certificate where applicable. Requirements can be added by local ordinance on top of state law, so check your specific city or county as well.