Limits rent increases to 4% annually, but allows an additional increase for taxes, insurance, or health and safety costs if the landlord gets an exemption from the secretary of housing, and provides tenants civil remedies for violations.

Rhode Island Rent Increase Limit Bill

This bill would place a cap on how much a landlord can raise a tenant's rent each year in Rhode Island. Under the proposed law, rent increases would be limited to 4% annually. This means that if someone is currently paying $1,000 per month in rent, their landlord could not raise it by more than $40 per month in a given year under normal circumstances.

However, the bill does allow for exceptions. If a landlord faces significant increases in property taxes, insurance costs, or expenses related to health and safety improvements, they can apply to the Secretary of Housing for an exemption that would permit a rent increase beyond the 4% cap. The landlord would need to go through an official approval process to receive this additional allowance, rather than simply raising rent on their own.

The bill also gives tenants legal tools to fight back if a landlord violates these rules. Tenants would have the right to take civil action — meaning they could sue in court — if their landlord raises rent beyond what the law allows without proper authorization. This provides a formal way for renters to seek relief if they believe their rights under this law have been violated.

As of now, the bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee, which has recommended it be held for further study, meaning it has not yet advanced through the legislative process. If passed, this bill would primarily affect renters and landlords in Rhode Island, particularly in areas where housing costs have been rising significantly.