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S2291AHousing

Property - Residential Landlord and Tenant Act - Rhode Island Survivor Early Lease Termination Act

This bill allows victims of abuse to break their lease early without penalties and request emergency lock changes.

Introduced68 Yea0 Nay7 Not voting
Population
Affected
8
Email Legislator
Introduced Jan 23, 2026Committee Senate Judiciary

Plain-English Summary

This bill allows tenants who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or abuse to end their lease early without facing financial penalties. To do so, they must provide proof, such as a police report, a protective order, or a signed self-certification form. It also requires landlords to change the locks within two business days if a victim requests it for their safety, or allows the tenant to change the locks themselves if the landlord fails to do so. Finally, it prevents landlords from denying housing to someone because they previously used these protections.

For younger readers

Sometimes people live with or near someone who hurts them or makes them feel unsafe. This bill helps those unsafe people move out of their rented apartments without having to pay extra money to their landlord for leaving early. It also says that if they want to stay but need to be safe, the landlord has to put new locks on the doors really fast. If the landlord doesn't do it, the person living there can change the locks themselves. It also makes sure landlords can't refuse to rent to them later just because they used this rule.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Victims of domestic violenceLandlordsTenantsCo-tenantsHousing subsidy providers
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely. The bill regulates commercial lease contracts and provides statutory mechanisms for victims of abuse to terminate agreements or secure their dwellings. Due process is maintained because landlords can still claim property damages, and removing a co-tenant's access requires a valid court order, ensuring the accused's rights are not violated without judicial oversight.

Estimated cost
None
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Protects vulnerable individuals, specifically victims of domestic violence and abuse, by removing financial barriers to escaping dangerous living situations.
  • Ensures strict confidentiality of victims' personal information and prevents housing discrimination against those who have previously utilized these life-saving lease termination protections.
  • Empowers tenants with the legal right to secure their homes by mandating swift lock changes, and allows them to take action themselves if the landlord fails to comply promptly.
  • Allows landlords to charge fees to victims for the expense of changing the locks, which could still pose a financial barrier for low-income individuals trying to secure their safety.
  • Requires victims to provide documentation or sworn self-certification, which adds an administrative hurdle during a deeply traumatic and chaotic time in their lives.
  • Requires victims to obtain a formal court order to have the locks changed and deny the abuser a key if the abuser is a co-tenant, which can be a slow legal process for marginalized individuals.
For Conservatives
  • Protects landlords' property rights by allowing them to charge tenants for the reasonable costs associated with changing the locks.
  • Requires tenants to provide verifiable documentation or legally binding sworn statements under penalty of perjury to break a lease, preventing widespread abuse of the early termination loophole.
  • Ensures that landlords retain the right to hold tenants accountable for actual physical damages to the property by allowing them to withhold repair costs from the security deposit.
  • Infringes on the freedom of contract by forcing property owners to allow tenants to break legally binding lease agreements without standard early termination penalties.
  • Imposes strict government mandates on private property owners, requiring them to change locks within an arbitrary two-business-day window or face financial penalties.
  • Strips landlords of their right to choose who they rent to by expressly prohibiting them from denying housing to applicants who have a history of breaking leases under these provisions.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

2 versions
Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 164 additions · 18 deletions

SECTION 1. Section 34-18-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 34-18 entitled "Residential Landlord and Tenant Act" is hereby amended to read as follows: 34-18-11. Definitions. Subject to additional definitions contained in subsequent sections of this chapter which apply to specific sections thereof, and unless the context otherwise requires, in this chapter:

(1) "Abandonment" means the tenant has vacated the premises without notice to the landlord and has no intention of returning, as evidenced by nonpayment of rent for more than fifteen

(15) days and removal of substantially all possessions from the premises;

(2) "Abuse" means an act or failure to act that presents an imminent risk of serious harm to an individual and, for purposes of this chapter includes, but is not limited to, any of the following crimes, regardless of whether these acts or threats have been reported to law enforcement officers:

(i) Child abuse (§ 11-9-5.3);

(ii) Child molestation (§§ 11-37-8.1 and 11-37-8.3);

(iii) Domestic violence;

(iv) Enticement of children (§ 11-26-1.5);

(v) Indecent solicitation of a child (§ 11-37-8.8);

(vi) Kidnapping (§§ 11-26-1 and 11-26-1.4);

(vii) Sexual assault (chapter 37 of title 11);

(viii) Stalking (§ 11-59-2);

(ix) Strangulation (§ 11-5-2.3); and

(x) Trafficking (chapter 67.1 of title 11). (2)(3) "Action" includes recoupment, counterclaim, set-off, suit in equity, and any other proceeding in which rights are determined, including an action for possession; (3)(4) "Building and housing codes" include any law, ordinance, or governmental regulation concerning fitness for habitation, or the construction, maintenance, operation, occupancy, use, or appearance of any premises of dwelling unit;

(5) "Domestic violence" for purposes of this chapter, means, but is not limited to, any of the following crimes when committed by one family or household member against another, regardless of whether these acts or threats have been reported to law enforcement officers:

(i) Simple assault (§ 11-5-3);

(ii) Felony assaults (chapter 5 of title 11);

(iii) Vandalism (§ 11-44-1);

(iv) Disorderly conduct (§ 11-45-1);

(v) Trespass (§ 11-44-26);

(vi) Kidnapping (§ 11-26-1);

(vii) Child-snatching (§ 11-26-1.1);

(viii) Sexual assault (§§ 11-37-2 and 11-37-4);

(ix) Homicide (§§ 11-23-1 and 11-23-3);

(x) Violation of the provisions of a protective order entered pursuant to § 15-5-19, chapter 15 of title 15, or chapter 8.1 of title 8 where the respondent has knowledge of the order and the penalty for its violation, or a violation of a no contact order issued pursuant to § 12-29-4;

(xi) Stalking (chapter 59 of title 11);

(xii) Refusal to relinquish or to damage or to obstruct a telephone (§ 11-35-14);

(xiii) Burglary and unlawful entry (chapter 8 of title 11);

(xiv) Arson (chapter 4 of title 11);

(xv) Cyberstalking and cyberharassment (§ 11-52-4.2);

(xvi) Domestic assault by strangulation (§ 11-5-2.3);

(xvii) Electronic tracking of motor vehicles (§ 11-69-1); or

(xviii) Abuse. (4)(6) "Dwelling unit" means a structure or part of a structure that is designed or intended to be used as a home, residence, or sleeping place by one or more persons; (5)(7) "Fair rental value" means rent which is of comparable value with that of other rental properties of similar size and condition within the contiguous neighborhood; (6)(8) "Good faith" means honesty in fact in the conduct of the transaction concerned;

(9) "Household member" means a person residing with a tenant as an authorized occupant of the premises. (7)(10) "Landlord" means the owner, lessor, or sublessor of the dwelling unit or the building of which it is a part, and it also means a manager of the premises who fails to disclose as required by § 34-18-20; (8)(11) "Ordinary wear and tear" means deterioration of the premises which is the result of the tenant's normal nonabusive living and includes, but is not limited to, deterioration caused by the landlord's failure to prepare for expected conditions or by the landlord's failure to comply with his or her obligations; (9)(12) "Organization" includes a corporation, government, governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership of association, two (2) or more persons having a joint or common interest, and any other legal or commercial entity; (10)(13) "Owner" shall mean any person who, alone or jointly or severally with others:

(i) Has legal title or tax title (pursuant to §§ 44-9-40 — 44-9-46, inclusive, of the general laws) to any dwelling, dwelling unit or structure with or without accompanying actual possession thereof; or

(ii) Has charge, care, or control of any dwelling, dwelling unit or structure as owner or agent of the owner, or an executor, administrator, trustee, or guardian of the estate of the owner. Any person representing the actual owner in this way shall be bound to comply with the provisions of this chapter and of rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto to the same extent as if he or she were the owner. (11)(14) "Person" includes an individual or organization; (12)(15) "Premises" means a dwelling unit and the structure of which it is a part and facilities and appurtenances therein and grounds, areas, and facilities held out for the use of tenants generally, or the use of which is promised to the tenant; (13)(16) "Rent" means the payment or consideration that a tenant pays to a landlord for the use of the premises, whether money, services, property, or produce of the land; (14)(17) "Rental agreement" means all agreements, written or oral, and valid rules and regulations adopted under § 34-18-25 embodying the terms and conditions concerning the use and occupancy of a dwelling unit and premises, and also includes any terms required by law; (15)(18) "Roomer" means a tenant occupying a dwelling unit which consists of any room or group of rooms forming a single habitable unit used or intended to be used for living and sleeping, but not for cooking or eating purposes; (16)(19) "Security deposit" means a sum of money given by a tenant to a landlord at the outset of the tenancy or shortly thereafter, as a deposit against physical damages to the tenant's dwelling unit during said tenancy; (17)(20) "Tenant" means a person entitled under a rental agreement to occupy a dwelling unit to the exclusion of others; (18)(21) "Transitional housing facility" means a facility which, for a period not to exceed two (2) years, provides its residents with appropriate social services for the purpose of fostering independence, self sufficiency, and eventual transition to a permanent living arrangement; (19)(22) "Willful" means that the act was performed intentionally, knowingly and purposely, not accidentally or inadvertently and without justifiable excuse.

SECTION 2. Chapter 34-18 of the General Laws entitled "Residential Landlord and Tenant Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following sections: 34-18-63. Early lease termination by tenant due to abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

(a) A tenant may terminate their lease or rental agreement without penalty or fees for early termination, or liability for future rent when:

(1) The tenant or household member within the most recent one hundred fifty (150) days has been a victim of abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking; or

(2) Within the most recent one hundred fifty (150) days, an event occurs relative to the victim of past abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, that, in conjunction with the past abuse, causes a victim lessee or victim household member to fear for their safety.

(3) This right to terminate the lease or rental agreement pursuant to this subsection shall be conditioned on:

(i) The tenant or household member of a tenant who is the victim provides the lessor or owner with written verification that the tenant or household member of a tenant has obtained a valid protective order against the perpetrator of the abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking; or

(ii) The tenant or household member of a tenant who is the victim:

(A) Initiates legal action to obtain a protective order and provides written verification thereof to the lessor or owner; or

(B) Reports the abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking to a law enforcement agency and provides written verification thereof to the lessor or owner; or

(C) Provides written verification from a law enforcement official, attorney, health care provider, social worker, mental health counselor, therapist, domestic violence advocate, sexual assault advocate, child abuse advocate, or other victim's advocate at a nonprofit organization, college, university or state agency, that the tenant or their household member are a victim of abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

(b) The written verification provided to the lessor or owner, including the fact that an individual is a victim of abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, shall be maintained in strict confidence. The lessor or owner shall keep this information and any further personally- identifiable information of the tenant and tenant's household members (such as address, social security number, email, phone number, birthdate) confidential and shall not disclose this information to any other entity, party or individual, except to the extent that such disclosure is:

(1) Requested and consented to in writing by the tenant or household member of the tenant who is the victim of abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking; or

(2) Otherwise required by applicable law.

(c) The tenant who has given notice shall vacate the premises within thirty (30) days of giving notice to the landlord or at any other time as may be agreed upon by the landlord and the tenant.

(d) For the purposes of determining rent owed, a tenant who terminates a lease or rental agreement pursuant to this section is only liable, if solely or jointly liable for purposes of the lease or rental agreement, for rent owed through the date of termination or the date the tenant actually vacates the premises, whichever is later.

(e) A tenant who terminates a lease or rental agreement pursuant to this section shall be entitled to a refund of any security deposit in compliance with § 34-18-19 or prepaid rent for any period thereafter, so long as full possession is turned over to the landlord absent any damage. The tenant shall receive a full and specific statement of the basis for retaining any of the security deposit or prepaid rent together with any refund due in compliance with § 34-18-19 and within twenty (20) days of the conclusion of the tenancy.

(f) A landlord who in good faith initiates an action against a remaining tenant, co-tenant or household member, or takes any other action under this section, shall not be subject to a claim of retaliation or any other claim under this chapter. 34-18-64. Refusal of rental agreement or assistance based on termination of rental agreement under § 34-18-63 or request for change of lock under § 34-18-65 prohibited. A lessor or owner shall not refuse to enter into a rental agreement, nor shall a housing subsidy provider deny assistance, based on an applicant having terminated a rental agreement under § 34-18-63 or based upon an applicant having requested a change of locks under § 34-18-65. 34-18-65. Change of locks upon request of tenant or household member believed to be under imminent threat of abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

(a) For purposes of this section, the term "household member" means a person residing with the tenant or co-tenant as an authorized occupant of the premises, and who is eighteen (18) years of age or older or an emancipated minor.

(b) A lessor or owner shall, upon the request of all tenants in possession, or furnishing of a court order, change the locks of the individual dwelling unit in which the tenant or household member lives if the tenant or household member reasonably believes that the tenant or household member is under an imminent threat of abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking at the premises. A lessor or owner shall have the right to request, in good faith, written verification of the status as a victim of abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, as provided in § 34-18- 63.

(c) If the threat of abuse, domestic abuse, violence, sexual assault or stalking is posed by a person who is a tenant or household member, the lessor or owner may change the locks and deny a key to the alleged perpetrator upon receipt of a request to change the locks; provided, however, that such request shall be accompanied by a copy of a valid protective order issued against a tenant or household member or other court order requiring change of locks.

(d) A lessor or owner who has received notice of a request, in accordance with subsection

(b) of this section, for change of locks shall, within two (2) business days, make a good faith effort to change the locks or give the tenant or household member permission to change the locks in a workman-like manner. If the lessor or owner changes the locks, the lessor or owner shall make a good faith effort to give a key to the new locks to the tenant or household member requesting the lock change as soon as possible, but within the same two (2) business day period. A lessor or owner may charge a fee for the expense of changing the locks. The fee shall not exceed the reasonable price customarily charged for changing such locks in that community.

(e) If a lessor or owner fails to change the locks after receipt of a request, in accordance with subsection (b) of this section, within two (2) business days, the tenant or household member may change the locks without the owner's permission. The tenant or household member shall make a good faith effort to provide a key to the new locks to the lessor or owner within two (2) business days of the locks being changed. If a tenant or household member changes the locks without the owner's permission, such person shall change the locks in a workman-like manner with locks of similar or better quality than the original locks. A lessor or owner may replace a lock installed by the tenant or household member, or seek reimbursement for additional costs incurred, if the lessor or owner believes that the locks were not of equal or better quality or were not installed properly, and such action shall be deemed not to be in retaliation.

(f) If the locks, are changed under this section, a tenant or household member shall not voluntarily give the new key to the perpetrator. A lessor or owner who refuses to provide a key to any person based on the reasonable belief that such person is the perpetrator of alleged abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, shall not be liable for such refusal.

(g) A lessor or owner who takes action to prevent the tenant or household member who has complied with subsection (b) of this section from changing the locks, or any lessor or owner who changes the locks but fails to make a good faith effort to provide a key to the tenant or household member requesting the lock change as provided in subsection (d) of this section, shall be liable for the amount of two (2) months' rent and the costs of the action, including reasonable attorneys' fees, all of which may be applied in setoff or recoupment against any claim for rent owed or owing for use and occupancy. Damages shall not be imposed if the court determines that the lessor or owner acted in good faith. 34-18-66. Jurisdiction of courts to restrain violations. The district court shall have jurisdiction in equity to restrain violations of §§ 34-18-63 through 34-18-65, inclusive. 34-18-67. Waivers of §§ 34-18-63 through 34-18-64 void and unenforceable. A waiver of §§ 34-18-63 through 34-18-65, shall be void and unenforceable.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.