What must a Rhode Island park disclose before I sign?

All charges, plus a three-year history. Under §31-44-3(9), before signing the park must disclose in writing 'the rental for the space or lot' and 'any charges, including service charges,' and must disclose 'the rent and charges that were in effect during the three (3) preceding years' (or the period the park has operated, if shorter). The current rules and the fee schedule must also be provided and posted (§31-44-3(2),(10)).

What deposit can a Rhode Island park require from a buyer?

No more than one month's rent, with interest. Under §31-44-7.1, the deposit can't exceed 'one month's rent,' earns 3% annual interest, and must be returned with interest within 30 days of move-out (or itemized). The home is built to the federal HUD code and conveyed by a recorded instrument (§§31-44-15, 31-44-4.1).

Buying a mobile home in Rhode Island

Q: Does a Rhode Island park have to give a written lease?

Yes, of at least one year. Under R.I. Gen. Laws §31-44-7, all terms 'must be fully disclosed in a written lease ... at a reasonable time prior to the rental or occupancy,' and §31-44-7(1)(xiv) requires 'a written lease having a term of not less than one year unless the resident requests, in writing, a term for less than one year.' The lease must itemize rent and all charges and state the total rent for the term (§31-44-7(4)). This is general information, not advice about a specific purchase — consider consulting a licensed attorney in Rhode Island.

Rhode Island's Mobile and Manufactured Homes Act (R.I. Gen. Laws chapter 31-44) gives a buyer a real written lease, full disclosure with a rent history, and a capped deposit. The information below describes how the law generally works; anyone buying should consider consulting a licensed attorney in Rhode Island.

What the statute says

Section 31-44-7 requires that "all terms and conditions of the occupancy ... be fully disclosed in a written lease ... at a reasonable time prior to the rental or occupancy," and §31-44-7(1)(xiv) requires "a written lease having a term of not less than one year unless the resident requests, in writing, a term for less than one year." The lease must itemize "any charges for services, ... lot rent, unit rent, or any other charge" and state "the total rent for the term" (§31-44-7(4)), and it must contain the statutory notice from §31-44-8 (§31-44-7(7)).

Section 31-44-3(9) requires pre-lease disclosure of "the rental for the space or lot" and "any charges, including service charges," plus "the rent and charges that were in effect during the three (3) preceding years, or the period during which the licensee has operated the ... park, whichever is shorter." The rules must be delivered before the agreement and posted (§31-44-3(2)), and the fee schedule filed and posted (§31-44-3(10)). The deposit is capped at one month's rent with 3% interest (§31-44-7.1).

How it works in general

A Rhode Island buyer who plans to keep a home in the park is entitled to a written lease of at least a year, with rent and every charge itemized and the total stated, plus the park's rules and a posted fee schedule. Crucially, before signing the buyer must get a written disclosure of all charges and a three-year history of the rent and fees for the lot — a useful check on whether costs have been stable. The security deposit can't exceed one month's rent, earns 3% interest, and must come back within 30 days. The home is built to the federal HUD standards and conveyed by a recorded instrument, so the buyer takes ownership when that instrument is recorded. Reviewing the lease, the disclosure and history, the deposit terms, and the recorded instrument are the key steps before closing.

Common scenarios

General examples Rhode Island buyers commonly encounter:

A buyer wants a real lease. The park must offer a written lease of at least one year (§31-44-7).
A buyer wants to know the park's cost history. Disclosure must include a three-year rent-and-fee history (§31-44-3(9)).
A buyer pays a deposit. It can't exceed one month's rent and earns 3% interest (§31-44-7.1).

Other authorities that may apply

The Mobile and Manufactured Homes Act (§§31-44-3, 31-44-7, 31-44-7.1) governs the lease, disclosure, and deposit; the Department of Business Regulation enforces it. The home is HUD-built (§31-44-15) and conveyed by a recorded instrument with a conveyance tax (§§31-44-4.1, 31-44-20). Federal lending rules and the Fair Housing Act can apply. The lease, the disclosure, and the recorded instrument are the core documents to review.