Title 34
Property
Chapter 18
Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-35
§ 34-18-35. Eviction for nonpayment of rent.
(a) If any part of the stipulated rent is due and in arrears for fifteen (15) days, the
landlord shall send a written notice, in a form substantially similar to that provided
in § 34-18-56(a), specifying the amount of the rent which is fifteen (15) days in arrears, making
demand for the rent, and notifying the tenant that unless he or she cures the breach
within five (5) days of the date of mailing of the notice, the rental agreement shall
terminate, and the landlord shall commence an eviction action in the appropriate district
court or housing court.
(b) If the tenant fails to cure his or her breach by paying the stipulated rent in arrears
within five (5) days of the date of mailing of the notice, the landlord may commence
an eviction action against the tenant, which shall be filed no earlier than the sixth
(6th) day after mailing of the written demand notice. The action shall be commenced
by filing a “Complaint for Eviction for Nonpayment of Rent” in the appropriate court
in the form provided in § 34-18-56(d).
(c) The summons for eviction for nonpayment of rent shall specify the date for hearing
and be in the form provided in § 34-18-56(g). The summons shall specify that the defendant may file and serve his or her answer
prior to or at the time of hearing, and that if he or she fails to answer or appear
at the hearing, he or she shall be defaulted.