It’s only a short skip and run to the Cultural Goal Online blog, and that’s because the interplay between the lifestyle of tenants and the legal landscape in Rhode Island influences and is influenced by the State’s laws on rent increases and increases. In the spirit of Derek Murphy, here are Ten Things to Know about The Landlord and Tenant Act and the Fair Housing Practices Act:
- Back, way back in 1956, the General Assembly passed a law regarding rent increases and housing stability. The enactment was called the Landlord and Tenant Act and it was codified as Chapter 34-18 of the General Laws. The Act limited the reasons for which a landlord could terminate a lease, mandated a 30-day period of notice and limited rent increases to five percent (5%) and annual increases to ten percent (10%).
- Nearly a dozen years later, in 1967, the Act was amended once more to limit rent increases to twenty-five percent (25%).
- In 1975, the General Assembly made changes to the Act to allow tenants three (3) units of choice for rental units.
- Although the 1975 Amendments reaffirmed the rent increase limits contained therein, at that time no less than 30 including broker, apartment rental, small home-owners associations, and other groups sought to manage the Act or repeal it.
- By the latter part of the 1980s, two groups were instrumental in repealing the Law known as the Landlord Tenant Act. Those two interest groups were the Rhode Island Association of Realtors, led by its Executive Vice President, Robert Flaherty, and the Small Property Owners of Rhode Island, led by its president, Anthony Savage.
- After months of testimony and study, the Rhode Island Legislature passed its amendment to the Act. It was supported not only by the Realtors and other small property owners but the Rhode Island Apartment Association, which covers medium and large apartment buildings.
- During the entire debate over the Amendment, the Rhode Island Civil Liberties Union opined to both legislative chambers to oppose the proposed amendment. The ACLU asserted that passage would constitute meaningful encroachment on housing rights for those living below the poverty line.
- Although the control went into effect on January 1, 1992, the law was a compendium of rights enjoyed by landlords and tenants, including the landlords’ right to raise the rent periodically if there is a higher demand for housing and/or wages and salaries have increased.
- The 1991 amendments exempted properties with four or more units from rent controls. The exemption was based on the proffered theory that the exemptions would provide a greater incentive to build rental units.
- The Federal Government views Chief Housing Officer as an individual who has passed federal, state, and local exams relating to housing including the right to review rent regarding new leases or lease renewals.
For more information on the legal aspects of rent increases, you can visit this helpful resource.
