Creates a model form for tenants to notify landlord of intent to make repairs to their property and deduct costs from the rent.

What This Bill Does

This bill creates an official template form that renters in Rhode Island can use when they need to make repairs to their home and want to subtract the cost from their rent. Under existing Rhode Island law, tenants already have the right to arrange and pay for certain repairs themselves and then deduct that cost from their rent payment — but this bill would give tenants a standardized, ready-to-use document to formally notify their landlord before doing so. Think of it like an official fill-in-the-blank letter that makes the process clearer and more straightforward for everyone involved.

Who It Affects

This bill primarily affects renters and landlords in Rhode Island. For tenants, especially those who may not be familiar with their legal rights or comfortable writing formal letters, the model form would make it easier to exercise their existing repair-and-deduct rights without having to figure out what to say or how to say it. For landlords, the standardized form would mean they receive consistent, clear written notice before a tenant moves forward with repairs, giving them an opportunity to address the issue themselves first.

Current Status

The bill has been introduced and sent to the Senate Housing and Municipal Government Committee, which is the next step before it could be debated and voted on. It has not yet been passed into law. No changes to tenant or landlord rights are currently in effect as a result of this bill.