Requires landlords to provide a receipt upon receiving a cash payment for rent from a tenant.

Rhode Island Bill Summary: Cash Rent Receipts Requirement

This bill would require landlords in Rhode Island to give their tenants a written receipt whenever a tenant pays rent in cash. The receipt would serve as proof that the payment was made and received. This would apply to residential rental situations — meaning people renting homes, apartments, or other places where they live.

The bill primarily affects two groups: tenants who pay their rent in cash and the landlords who receive those payments. For tenants, the receipt would provide an important paper record showing that they paid their rent, which could protect them in situations where a dispute arises about whether a payment was made. For landlords, the bill creates a new requirement to document and acknowledge cash transactions whenever they occur.

Currently, Rhode Island law does not specifically require landlords to provide receipts for cash rent payments. This bill would change that by making it a legal obligation. The goal appears to be creating a clearer paper trail for cash transactions, since unlike checks or electronic payments, cash leaves no automatic record that can be easily verified by either party.

The bill has been introduced and sent to the Senate Housing and Municipal Government Committee for review, which is the next step before it could move forward toward a full vote. It has not yet become law.