Title 34
Property
Chapter 18
Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-38.1
§ 34-18-38.1. Definitions for purpose of the eviction of tenants in residential foreclosed properties.
As used in § 34-18-38.2, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the
following meanings:
(1) “Bona fide lease” or “bona fide tenancy” means a lease or tenancy shall not be considered
bona fide unless:
(i) The mortgagor, or the child, spouse, or parent of the mortgagor under the contract,
is not the tenant; and
(ii) The lease or tenancy was the result of an arms-length transaction; and
(iii) The lease or tenancy requires the receipt of rent that is not substantially less than
fair-market rent for the property, or the dwelling unit’s rent is reduced or subsidized
due to a federal, state, or local subsidy.
(2) “Entity” means a business organization, or any other kind of organization including,
without limitation, a corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability corporation,
limited liability partnership, joint venture, sole proprietorship, or any other category
of organization, and any employee, agent, servant, or other representative of such
entity.
(3) “Eviction” means an action, without limitation, by a foreclosing owner of a housing
accommodation that is intended to actually or constructively evict a tenant or otherwise
compel a tenant to vacate such housing accommodation.
(4) “Foreclosing owner” means an entity that holds title in any capacity, directly or
indirectly, without limitation, whether in its own name, as trustee or as beneficiary,
to a housing accommodation that has been foreclosed upon and either: