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Rhode Island room rental agreement
Written for Rhode Island law, checked September 24, 2026 General information, not legal advice
Rentari offers a general room-rental agreement form, but it is not tailored to Rhode Island or every local rule. Review the room, shared spaces, occupancy requirements, and applicable Rhode Island and city rules before using a form. The state table below covers selected deposit and entry rules, not every room-rental requirement.
Rhode Island rules that apply
- Security deposit limit
- 1 month's rent
- a separate furniture deposit is allowed only for furniture worth $5,000 or more
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19(a), (e)
Security deposit limit
A landlord may not demand or receive a security deposit, however it is labeled, of more than one month's periodic rent.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19 R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-11
More detail (5)
- A landlord who rents a furnished apartment may also take a separate furniture security deposit of up to one month's rent, but only if the furniture supplied is worth $5,000 or more to replace, valued when the lease is signed. R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19(e)
- The furniture deposit comes back within the same 20 days, less reasonable cleaning, repair and damage to the furniture beyond ordinary wear and tear. R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19(f)
- A security deposit is money the tenant gives at or shortly after the start of the tenancy as a deposit against physical damage to the unit. R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-11
- A lease may not waive any part of the deposit section. R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19(h)
- Money a tenant with a disability pays into an escrow account to restore a modified unit does not count toward the one-month limit, though the return rules still apply to it. R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-37-4(d)
The lease states the one-month limit and the furniture deposit rule, and the lease builder stops a security deposit above one month's rent. A separate furniture deposit cannot be added in the builder.
Landlord entry
Except in an emergency or where it is impracticable, give the tenant at least two days' notice of your intent to enter, and enter only at reasonable times. The tenant may not unreasonably refuse entry to inspect, make necessary or agreed repairs, supply services, or show the unit to buyers, lenders, tenants, workers or contractors.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-26 R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-45
More detail (5)
- You may enter without consent in an emergency, or during a tenant's absence of more than seven days if reasonably necessary to protect the property. R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-26(b)
- Otherwise you have no right of access except by court order, to make repairs the tenant failed to make after notice, or once the tenant has abandoned or surrendered the unit. R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-26(d) R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-39
- You may not abuse the right of access or use it to harass the tenant. R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-26(c)
- If the tenant refuses lawful access, you may seek a court order or end the lease; if the landlord enters unlawfully, unreasonably or with harassing demands, the tenant may seek an order or end the lease. The winner recovers actual damages, costs and reasonable attorney's fees. R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-45
- A lease may require the tenant to tell you, no later than its first day, about any absence longer than 10 days. R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-27
The lease gives two days' notice, or the longer notice you choose, and repeats the emergency and seven-day absence exceptions, the limits on other access and the remedies for abuse of access.