Mobile home lot rent rules in Rhode Island

Rhode Island has a dedicated park law — the Mobile and Manufactured Homes Act, R.I. Gen. Laws chapter 31-44 — that requires a written lease, locks rent during the term, and requires long notice of any change. The information below describes how the law generally works; anyone dealing with a specific increase should consider consulting a licensed attorney in Rhode Island.

What the statute says

Under R.I. Gen. Laws §31-44-7(1)(xiv), the park must "provide 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." During that term, §31-44-7(6) bars any lease provision "which allows the owner to increase the total rent or change the payment arrangements during the term of the rental agreement; provided that prorated increases for increased taxes only may be added if stated in the original lease," and bars a grace period of "less than a seven (7) day" period or "a late charge in excess of five percent (5%) of the monthly rent due."

When rent does change at renewal, §31-44-3(6) requires that "notice of the change shall be given to the ... resident at least sixty (60) days prior to the effective date of the change," and §31-44-3(3) makes "any rule or change in rent that does not apply uniformly to all ... residents of a similar class" presumptively "unreasonable." There is no statute capping the amount of rent.

How it works in general

A Rhode Island park resident is entitled to a written lease of at least a year, and the park can't raise rent in the middle of that term (only a stated prorated tax pass-through is allowed). A rent or fee change takes effect only after at least 60 days' written notice, and it has to be applied uniformly to similar residents — a non-uniform increase is presumed unreasonable and can be challenged with the state director. The lease must give at least a seven-day grace period before any late charge, and the late charge itself can't exceed 5% of the monthly rent. There is no statewide cap on the amount, so the lease and the market set the figure while the Act fixes the notice and timing.

Common scenarios

General examples Rhode Island park residents commonly encounter:

• A rent increase is announced. It needs at least 60 days' written notice and can't take effect mid-lease (§31-44-3(6); §31-44-7(6)).
• A late fee looks steep. The lease must allow a 7-day grace period, and the late charge can't exceed 5% of monthly rent (§31-44-7(6)).
• A neighbor pays a different rent for a similar lot. A non-uniform rent change is presumed unreasonable (§31-44-3(3)).

Other authorities that may apply

The Mobile and Manufactured Homes Act (chapter 31-44) governs the lease, the notice, and the late charge; the Department of Business Regulation enforces it and hears resident complaints. A non-uniform rent change can be challenged under §31-44-17. Federal law such as the Fair Housing Act can apply to how an increase is administered.