After a Fire
R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-33 — vacate and give written notice within fourteen days, or stay and pay less
When fire or another casualty substantially impairs the use of the unit, the tenant may choose:
- Vacating immediately and giving written notice within fourteen days of the intent to end the lease, which then ends as of the day of vacating.
- Staying, if it is lawful, out of the unusable part, with the rent reduced in proportion to the lost rental value.
If the lease ends, the landlord returns the recoverable deposit and prepaid rent, accounted as of the date of the fire.
A tenant who caused the fire may still be sued for it. A particular situation is a question for a licensed Rhode Island attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-33 — Fire or casualty damage
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Rhode Island attorney.