Limits the mandatory rental registry to properties constructed prior to 1978, and further push out the effective date of registration to September 1, 2025, with the penalty clause becoming effective as of October 1, 2025.
Summary
H5917 amends Rhode Island’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Act to narrow and delay the state’s mandatory rental registry requirements. Under the bill, the registry would apply only to residential rental properties constructed before 1978, rather than to a broader class of landlords. Covered landlords would still have to register identifying and contact information with the Department of Health, and, for non-exempt pre-1978 properties, provide a valid lead hazard mitigation certificate of conformance or proof of exemption.
The bill also pushes back the compliance timeline. Landlords already subject to the law would have until October 1, 2025 to register, with new owners or new leases triggering registration within 30 days. Annual re-registration would remain in place. Civil penalties for noncompliance would not begin until October 1, 2025, and the bill preserves the restricted receipt account used to fund administration and lead-related enforcement and prevention activities. A major substantive change is that the bill removes the existing prohibition on filing an eviction for nonpayment of rent unless the landlord is in compliance with the rental registry and lead certificate requirements.
Impact
If enacted, H5917 would amend chapter 34-18 of the General Laws by narrowing the scope of the statewide mandatory rental registry, delaying implementation dates, and eliminating the registry-based bar on nonpayment eviction actions. It would continue to require registration and lead-related documentation for pre-1978 rental properties, while leaving enforcement tools such as civil penalties, injunctive relief, and the rental registry account in place. The bill primarily affects landlords of older residential properties, tenants in those units, and the Department of Health, which would continue to administer the registry and related lead hazard functions.
Sentiment
The bill’s overall tone appears to be regulatory refinement rather than expansion: it reduces the reach of the registry, postpones deadlines, and removes a litigation-related restriction on landlords. Based on the bill text and caption, the measure seems aimed at easing compliance burdens while preserving the state’s lead-safety and landlord-contact information goals. No committee transcript or vote record was provided, so there is no recorded floor or committee sentiment to assess beyond the bill’s stated policy changes.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely the balance between tenant protections and landlord compliance burdens. Supporters of the registry may view the pre-1978 focus and lead certificate requirements as important public-health tools, especially for lead hazard mitigation and tenant accountability. Opponents or landlords may favor the delayed deadlines and removal of the eviction-condition provision, arguing that the prior law tied access to the courts too closely to administrative compliance. The bill’s retention of penalties and lead-related enforcement suggests continued support for public-health enforcement, but with less immediate pressure on landlords.