Rhode Island Rental Fee Rules
Rhode Island rules on rental fees for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: Banned since January 1, 2024: landlords, brokers and property managers may not require any rental application fee. R.I. Gen. Laws 34-18-59
The rules in Rhode Island
| Application / screening fees | Banned since January 1, 2024: landlords, brokers and property managers may not require any rental application fee. They may require an official state criminal background check (BCI/AG/police) or a credit check, but if the applicant supplies one issued within the past 90 days no fee may be charged; otherwise the fee may not exceed the actual cost, and the applicant charged must receive a copy of the report. Landlords may obtain their own reports at their own expense. P.L. 2023, ch. 319 and ch. 320. Source: R.I. Gen. Laws 34-18-59 |
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| Other rental fees | Since January 1, 2025: (1) landlords may not charge a convenience fee on rent payments unless they also accept a form of rent payment that carries no convenience fee; (2) all fees beyond rent must be disclosed in the lease in the same section as the rent, with a statement that additional fees may apply (or, with no written lease, in a written list), and fee changes need 30 days' written notice; the lease must also disclose which utilities are included and any renter's insurance requirement. A tenant may recover any fees paid that were not disclosed as required. Fee disclosure text at http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE34/34-18/34-18-15.htm (P.L. 2024, ch. 308/309). Disclosure rule does not apply where a subsidy program requires a different lease format. |
Related questions
- How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee?
- What rental fees are illegal (junk fees)?
Rhode Island vs. neighboring states
| State | Application / screening fees | Other rental fees |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | Banned since January 1, 2024: landlords, brokers and property managers may not require any rental application fee. They may require an official state criminal background check (BCI/AG/police) or a credit check, but if the applicant supplies one issued within the past 90 days no fee may be charged; otherwise the fee may not exceed the actual cost, and the applicant charged must receive a copy of the report. Landlords may obtain their own reports at their own expense. R.I. Gen. Laws 34-18-59 | Since January 1, 2025: (1) landlords may not charge a convenience fee on rent payments unless they also accept a form of rent payment that carries no convenience fee; (2) all fees beyond rent must be disclosed in the lease in the same section as the rent, with a statement that additional fees may apply (or, with no written lease, in a written list), and fee changes need 30 days' written notice; the lease must also disclose which utilities are included and any renter's insurance requirement. A tenant may recover any fees paid that were not disclosed as required. R.I. Gen. Laws 34-18-61; 34-18-15(a)(1)-(5) |
| Connecticut | Rental application fees are banned. A landlord may not charge a prospective tenant any fee to process, review, or accept a rental application. Before or at the start of the tenancy, the only allowed charges are a security deposit, first month's rent, a deposit for a key or special equipment, and a tenant screening report fee. The screening fee may not exceed $50, plus an annual consumer price index adjustment set by the Commissioner of Housing. A landlord who charges it must give the applicant a copy of the screening report (or information on how to get it from the provider) and a copy of the screening company's receipt or invoice. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-4d | Move-in and move-out fees are banned (§ 47a-4d(b)). Advertised rent must include every fee the tenant is required to pay on a periodic basis, prorated, even fees charged by default that the tenant could opt out of. Excluded from that rule: actual-cost payment processing fees (if a fee-free payment option is offered), pet fees or deposits, submetered or variable direct-paid utilities, damage charges, and separate service fees such as lockouts or key replacement. Starting April 1, 2026, every written lease must have as its first page a completed copy of the Department of Housing's standardized rental terms summary form. Tenant payments must be applied to rent first, then to other fees. The penalty for violating § 47a-7d is one month's rent payable to the tenant, plus possible attorney's fees. Landlords may not require electronic funds transfer as the only way to pay rent or a deposit (§ 47a-4c). On request, the landlord must give an occupant a copy of the ledger showing charges, payments, and balance (§ 47a-3a(d)). Late fees are capped separately (§ 47a-15a(b)). Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-4d(b), 47a-7d, 47a-4c, 47a-3a(d) |
| Massachusetts | Banned in effect. Before or at the start of a tenancy, a landlord or the landlord's agent may not require any payment except: first month's rent, last month's rent, a security deposit of no more than one month's rent, and the cost of buying and installing a lock and key. Application and screening fees are not on the list. G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(b) (as amended by St. 2025, c. 9, §§ 54-55, eff. Aug. 1, 2025) | Payments at move-in are limited to the four items in § 15B(1)(b). Since Aug. 1, 2025, that limit also covers payments to the landlord's agent, which ends renter-paid broker fees when the broker works for the landlord. After the tenancy starts, the landlord may not demand advance rent beyond the current month or a larger deposit. No late fee or interest may be charged until rent is 30 days overdue. Regulations may allow an optional 'fee in lieu of security deposit', capped at one month's rent in total. G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(b)-(d) |
City rules that may add to state law
More Rhode Island rental law
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- Rhode Island Eviction Laws
- Rhode Island Notice to Vacate Rules
- Landlord Entry Rules in Rhode Island
- Rhode Island Repairs & Tenant Remedies
- Rhode Island Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws
- Breaking a Lease in Rhode Island
- Rhode Island Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel
- Rhode Island Mold, Pests, Heat & AC Rules
- Rhode Island Privacy, Guests & Animal Rules
- Rhode Island Landlord Selling the House
- Rhode Island Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation
- Rhode Island Subletting, Lease Endings & Tenant Death
- All Rhode Island landlord-tenant rules
- Free legal help in Rhode Island
Compare rental fees in all 50 states and DC →
Rhode Island Rental Fee Rules FAQ
Is there a limit on rental application fees in Rhode Island?
Banned since January 1, 2024: landlords, brokers and property managers may not require any rental application fee. They may require an official state criminal background check (BCI/AG/police) or a credit check, but if the applicant supplies one issued within the past 90 days no fee may be charged; otherwise the fee may not exceed the actual cost, and the applicant charged must receive a copy of the report. Landlords may obtain their own reports at their own expense. (R.I. Gen. Laws 34-18-59)
What rental fees are banned or limited in Rhode Island?
Since January 1, 2025: (1) landlords may not charge a convenience fee on rent payments unless they also accept a form of rent payment that carries no convenience fee; (2) all fees beyond rent must be disclosed in the lease in the same section as the rent, with a statement that additional fees may apply (or, with no written lease, in a written list), and fee changes need 30 days' written notice; the lease must also disclose which utilities are included and any renter's insurance requirement. A tenant may recover any fees paid that were not disclosed as required. (R.I. Gen. Laws 34-18-61; 34-18-15(a)(1)-(5))
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.