Landlords have until Tuesday to register their apartments with the state and, if the homes are in older buildings, produce proof that they are lead-free.
The state Department of Health has been working to build Rhode Island’s first statewide rental registry , a priority for tenants’ advocates and Attorney General Peter Neronha, since it was approved by the General Assembly in summer 2023.
All rented living spaces, including short-term rentals, are supposed to be registered under the law, with $50-per-month penalties for landlords who fail to do so. Apartments in buildings constructed before lead was banned in 1978 also have to provide a “lead certificate,” proof that they were deemed safe by a certified lead inspector.
The state, however, is not going to be issuing any fines for failure to register at this time.
The Department of Health “is currently focused on educating landlords about this new requirement and allowing landlords enough time to schedule [and receive] an inspection from a licensed lead inspector,” agency spokeswoman Annemarie Beardsworth wrote in an email that explains why fines are not being issued.