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Tenant Repair Laws in Rhode Island

In Rhode Island, a tenant may have certain repairs done and deduct the cost from rent if the landlord does not act within 20 days of written notice, for repairs costing less than $500 per year.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Rhode Island at a glance

Repair and deduct
Yes, under $500 per year
Repairs must be done in a skilled manner and to code, with an itemized statement to the landlord. Not available for tenant-caused damage.
Landlord repair deadline
20 days after written notice
Or less in an emergency if the landlord cannot be reached or does not act as promptly as conditions require.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Rhode Island

Can a tenant repair and deduct the cost from rent in Rhode Island?

Yes, under $500 per year. Repair and deduct in Rhode Island: yes, under $500 per year. Repairs must be done in a skilled manner and to code, with an itemized statement to the landlord. Not available for tenant-caused damage.

How long does a landlord have to make repairs after notice in Rhode Island?

Landlord repair deadline in Rhode Island: 20 days after written notice. Or less in an emergency if the landlord cannot be reached or does not act as promptly as conditions require.

Where do the Rhode Island tenant repair laws come from?

The rules above come from R.I. Gen. Laws 34-18-30 and R.I. Gen. Laws 34-18-32. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

The $500 annual limit and the 20-day period were set by P.L. 2023, ch. 286 and ch. 287, effective January 1, 2024.

In an eviction or rent case, the court may order the tenant to pay rent into court while a counterclaim is decided (R.I. Gen. Laws 34-18-32).

What this means in practice

Give notice in writing and keep a copy. Tenant repair remedies usually start running only after the landlord has received notice of the problem, and a dated letter or email is the easiest way to prove when that happened.

Document the condition before and after. Photos, videos, inspection reports from a local code office and receipts for any repair work help show that the problem was serious and that any amount deducted or withheld matches the actual cost.

Stay current on everything else. Repair remedies generally protect only tenants who are not otherwise behind on rent and who did not cause the damage, and using a remedy the state does not allow can be treated as nonpayment of rent and lead to an eviction case.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.