RI Rent Crisis: Why 120-Day Notice Could Save Families

Providence and the surrounding metro area face one of the highest year-over-year rental cost increases in the U.S., at 23.8%, driven by a shortage of multi-family housing and low vacancy rates. Current Rhode Island law requires only a 30-day notice for rent increases, or 60 days for tenants over 62, leaving many families and older adults struggling to adjust. Yanine, a tenant organizer from Pawtucket with Reclaim RI, highlights the challenges renters face, including fears of retaliation from landlords for political activity. She advocates for a rent cap and longer notice periods to help tenants manage sudden rent hikes.

Representatives from the Village Common of Rhode Island, a nonprofit supporting older adults, also testify in favor of extending notice periods. They emphasize the panic and hardship caused by short notice, especially for seniors on fixed incomes. The organization supports Senator Mack’s proposed amendments to extend notice periods to 120 days for most tenants and 150 days for those over 62, providing more time to plan and adjust to rising housing costs.

This video captures testimonies from advocates and organizers pushing for legislative changes to protect renters in Rhode Island, particularly low-income families and older adults, during an ongoing housing crisis.

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