🏠 RHODE ISLAND · SECURITY DEPOSIT LAW
Security deposits in Rhode Island
In Rhode Island, R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19 gives your landlord 20 days after the tenancy ends to return your security deposit or send you an itemized statement of what was withheld. The deposit itself is capped at 1 month's rent. Miss that deadline and the consequence is specific: 2x.
The Rhode Island statute
VERIFIED PRIMARY SOURCE
§ R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19
A landlord may not demand or receive a security deposit, however denominated, in excess of one month’s periodic rent. On termination the landlord may withhold unpaid rent, reasonable trash-disposal expenses and physical damage beyond ordinary wear and tear, each itemized in a written notice, and must deliver that notice together with the balance of the deposit within 20 days. Verified against primary statute text (rilegislature.gov) 2026-08-26.
Read the Rhode Island source text →Rhode Island deadlines at a glance
| Rule | What Rhode Island requires |
|---|---|
| Deadline to return or itemize | 20 days after the tenancy ends |
| Maximum deposit | 1 month's rent |
| If the landlord misses the deadline | 2x |
| Governing statute | R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19 |
null Every figure here was read from the Rhode Island statute text, not a secondary summary. Verified against the primary source →
What security deposits law covers in Rhode Island
The 20 days clock in Rhode IslandR.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19 sets Rhode Island's deadline at 20 days from the end of the tenancy. null
Rhode Island caps the deposit at 1 month's rentA Rhode Island landlord may not demand more than 1 month's rent as a security deposit under R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19. A deposit collected above the cap is recoverable even if you agreed to it in the lease.
Itemization is the condition of keeping anythingWithholding any part of the deposit in Rhode Island requires a written, itemized statement within the 20 days window. A lump-sum "cleaning and repairs" line is the kind of entry that fails the statute — and ordinary wear and tear is not deductible.
What missing the deadline costs in Rhode Island2x — that is the remedy R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19 attaches to a late or missing statement, which is why the date you moved out and the date you gave a forwarding address both matter.
What to do in Rhode Island, in order
- Write down the date the tenancy ended and you handed back possession — in Rhode Island the 20 days clock runs from that date.
- Document the unit on move-out day: video every room, appliance, and wall, and keep the file timestamped.
- Send your forwarding address in writing and keep proof — several statutes start or extend the clock from it.
- If 20 days pass with no deposit and no itemized statement, send a demand letter citing R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19 and the penalty it carries.
- If the landlord still doesn't pay, Rhode Island small claims court handles deposit cases cheaply — and the statutory penalty (2x) is what you ask the court to award.
Common questions about security deposits in Rhode Island
How long does my landlord have to return my security deposit in Rhode Island?
R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19 gives your landlord 20 days after the tenancy ends to return your security deposit or send you an itemized statement of what was withheld. null
What happens if my Rhode Island landlord misses the deadline?
2x. That remedy is written into R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19 — you generally have to claim it, and small claims court is where deposit cases of this size are decided.
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island caps it at 1 month's rent under R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19. A lease term purporting to charge more does not make the excess lawful.
Can my Rhode Island landlord keep the deposit for cleaning?
Only to return the unit to its move-in cleanliness, and any deduction must appear in the itemized statement due within 20 days. Routine turnover cleaning and ordinary wear — faded paint, traffic-worn carpet — are generally the landlord's cost, not yours.
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Run the Lease Analyzer — free →This page is general legal information, not legal advice, and doesn’t create an attorney-client relationship. Statutes change and have exceptions; the linked primary source controls. For advice on your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.