Rhode Island security deposit law
Security Deposit Laws in Rhode Island
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When did you move out?
This is the one that matters. Your clock starts the day you handed back the keys — not the day your landlord replies.
Statute-verified in 50 U.S. jurisdictions and counting — everywhere else, a specialist prepares your case by hand until verification clears.
Rhode Island security deposit return timeline
Deadline to return
20 days
Statute
R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19(b)-(c)
20 days after the LATER of: (1) termination of the tenancy, (2) delivery of possession, or (3) the tenant providing the landlord with a forwarding address for the purpose of receiving the security deposit. The itemized written notice and the amount due must be delivered together. A separate furniture security deposit (permitted only for furnished units where furniture replacement value is $5,000 or more) follows the same 20-day rule under § 34-18-19(f). No rental agreement may waive this section.
What can a landlord legally deduct in Rhode Island?
Allowed
- ✓Unpaid accrued rent
- ✓Reasonable cleaning expenses
- ✓Reasonable trash disposal expenses
- ✓Physical damages to the premises other than ordinary wear and tear, arising from tenant noncompliance with § 34-18-24
Not allowed
- ✗Ordinary wear and tear
What if your landlord keeps your deposit wrongfully in Rhode Island?
If the landlord fails to comply with subsection (b), the tenant may recover the amount due plus damages equal to TWICE (2x) the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney fees. § 34-18-19(d) preserves other damages available under the chapter.
How TenantNex helps
- 1. Tell us your move-out date, deposit amount, and landlord's address — two minutes.
- 2. We generate a demand letter citing R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19(b)-(c) and your exact deadline.
- 3. We mail it to your landlord via USPS Certified Mail with return receipt.
- 4. You track delivery on your case page, with day-7 and day-14 follow-up.
$39 per case — founding price, one flat fee, no subscription.
Rhode Island tenant rights resources
- HUD — tenant rights and resources
- Find your state's consumer protection / Attorney General office
- Key statute: R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19(b)-(c) — verified against the official text on 2026-09-04.
Every fact on this page is verified against Rhode Island's official statutory text as of 2026-09-04. TenantNex is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. For complex disputes, consult a licensed attorney in Rhode Island.
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See what you're owed
FREE · 30 secondsYour money is due back
20 days
Rhode Island law sets this deadline — your landlord must return your deposit or itemize deductions by then.
If they wrongfully withhold
up to 2× your deposit
Add your deposit amount above for the exact figure.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19(b)-(c) — verified against the official statute 2026-09-04
Your 20 days started the day you moved out — that clock is running right now whether or not your landlord acts, and the 2× penalty only exists if you demanded it in writing before it closed.
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Used by renters in 4 states — 15 people in the past two weeks found out exactly what they're owed this way.
We don't stop at mailing it. If your landlord doesn't respond, we follow up at day 7 and day 14 — and help you build the evidence and paperwork for small claims if it comes to that. Real result: we helped Kathleen A. (Ohio) recover her full $3,000 deposit this way.
Pay once. We handle the rest.
One case, one price — the letter, the certified mailing, the tracking, and the follow-up. No subscription, no recurring anything.
| Option | Price | Effort | Follow-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | — | All of it | You chase |
| TenantNex | $39 | Done for you | We chase |
| Small-claims services | $149–448 | — | — |
| Hire an attorney | $300–2,000+ | — | — |
An attorney starts at $300. Filing services charge $149 for the letter alone. We prepare the whole claim for $39.
Recover
We run your claim until you are paid — or you are ready to file.
- Step 1 — certified demand letter citing your state statute, deadline and penalty
- Mailed USPS Certified with return receipt, tracked to your landlord’s door
- Step 2 — day-14 notice of intent to file, the one most landlords act on
- Step 3 — your small-claims packet: the right form for your county, filled in
- Where to file, what it costs, and how to serve your landlord
- Evidence checklist, with your certified receipt as Exhibit A
- Counter-response letter if your landlord disputes or underpays
- Attorney referral if it is still unresolved after 21 days
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What TenantNex is — and isn't
TenantNex is not a law firm. We prepare and send correspondence using publicly available state statutes. We do not provide legal advice, legal representation, or guarantee any outcome. For complex legal matters, consult a licensed attorney in your state.