H 8386Real Estate

Property - Residential Landlord and Tenant Act

Landlords must provide tenants with an immediate receipt when rent is paid in cash.

Held for study

Population
Affected

Introduced Apr 1, 2026Committee House Judiciary

Plain-English Summary

This bill requires landlords to immediately give their tenants a receipt whenever the tenant pays their rent using cash.

For younger readers

If a person pays the money to live in their apartment or house (called rent) using cash, the person who owns the home (the landlord) has to give them a piece of paper right away. This paper is called a receipt, and it proves that the person paid their money.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

LandlordsTenantsProperty managersUnbanked individuals

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost

None

Estimated revenue

None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Protects low-income and unbanked tenants, who are more likely to pay rent in cash, from being falsely accused of non-payment.
Promotes accountability and transparency for landlords, helping to reduce the systemic power imbalance between property owners and vulnerable renters.
Helps prevent unjust evictions by ensuring tenants have physical proof of their rent payments to present in housing court if disputes arise.
Fails to establish specific penalties or enforcement mechanisms for landlords who refuse or forget to provide the required receipt.
Does not extend receipt requirements to other payment methods often used by unbanked individuals, such as money orders.
Leaves the burden of enforcement largely on the tenant, which can be intimidating for marginalized renters fearing retaliation for demanding a receipt.

For Conservatives

Encourages better financial record-keeping and responsible, transparent business practices within the private rental market.
Reduces the burden on the court system by preventing prolonged disputes over rent payments, potentially saving taxpayer money on civil litigation.
Protects honest landlords from false claims by tenants who might lie about having paid rent in cash, establishing a clear standard of proof.
Imposes a new government mandate on private property owners, interfering with their freedom to manage their business transactions independently.
Creates an additional administrative burden and potential legal liability for landlords who choose to accept cash payments.
May inadvertently discourage landlords from accepting cash payments altogether, limiting free market payment options for consumers.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 3 additions

SECTION 1. Chapter 34-18 of the General Laws entitled "Residential Landlord and Tenant Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 34-18-63. Receipt for cash payment of rent. A landlord shall provide a receipt to any tenant that makes a rental payment in cash at the time the payment is received.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.