§ 34-18-23. Limitation of liability upon sale or change of management.
(a)(1) A landlord who conveys premises that include a dwelling unit subject to a rental agreement in a good faith sale to a bona fide purchaser is relieved of liability under the rental agreement and this chapter as to events occurring after written notice to the tenant of the conveyance. In no event may the relief from liability predate the conveyance itself.
(2) Written notice, for purposes of this section, must include the name(s), address, and telephone number of the person or persons purchasing the property and assuming liability. To be effective, the written notice must also certify compliance with § 45-24.3-17 that prohibits sale or lease of property until any outstanding housing code violations have been corrected or the seller or lessor has provided to the buyer or lessee, as well as to the enforcing officer, all notices regarding violations as required by the statute.
(b) A manager of premises that include a dwelling unit is relieved of liability under the rental agreement and this chapter as to events occurring after written notice to the tenant of the termination of his or her management. The written notice must include the name(s), address, and telephone number of the person or persons assuming management and/or the person or persons within the state exercising ownership or responsibility over the property.
(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the tenant’s rights and duties under an existing rental agreement, and the purchaser of property or any immediate successor in interest to a mortgagor, other than a third-party, bona fide purchaser, of a premises containing four (4) or fewer dwelling units takes title subject to the same rights and responsibilities toward the tenant that the seller or mortgagor had.
History of Section.P.L. 1986, ch. 200, § 2; P.L. 2014, ch. 486, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 513, § 1.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 34-18 - Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
Section 34-18-1. - Short title.
Section 34-18-2. - Purposes — Rules of construction.
Section 34-18-3. - Supplementary principles of law applicable.
Section 34-18-4. - Construction against implicit repeal.
Section 34-18-5. - Administration of remedies — Enforcement.
Section 34-18-6. - Temporary restraining orders — Ex parte proceedings.
Section 34-18-7. - Application.
Section 34-18-8. - Exclusions from application of chapter.
Section 34-18-9. - Jurisdiction.
Section 34-18-10. - Service of process for actions pursuant to chapter.
Section 34-18-11. - Definitions.
Section 34-18-12. - Obligation of good faith.
Section 34-18-13. - Unconscionability.
Section 34-18-15. - Terms and conditions of rental agreement.
Section 34-18-16. - Effect of unsigned or undelivered rental agreement.
Section 34-18-16.1. - Rent increases — Notice requirements.
Section 34-18-17. - Prohibited provisions in rental agreements.
Section 34-18-18. - Receipt of rent free of maintenance obligations forbidden.
Section 34-18-19. - Security deposits.
Section 34-18-20. - Disclosure.
Section 34-18-21. - Landlord to deliver possession of dwelling unit.
Section 34-18-22. - Landlord to maintain premises.
Section 34-18-22.1. - Landlord’s duty to notify tenant of violation.
Section 34-18-22.2. - Landlord’s duty regarding compliance with zoning and minimum housing laws.
Section 34-18-22.3. - Nonresident landlord to designate agent for service of process.
Section 34-18-23. - Limitation of liability upon sale or change of management.
Section 34-18-24. - Tenant to maintain dwelling unit.
Section 34-18-25. - Rules and regulations.
Section 34-18-27. - Tenant to use and occupy.
Section 34-18-28. - Noncompliance by the landlord in general.
Section 34-18-29. - Failure to deliver possession.
Section 34-18-30. - Self-help for limited repairs.
Section 34-18-31. - Wrongful failure to supply heat, water, hot water, or essential services.
Section 34-18-32. - Landlord’s noncompliance as defense to action for possession or rent.
Section 34-18-33. - Fire or casualty damage.
Section 34-18-35. - Eviction for nonpayment of rent.
Section 34-18-36. - Eviction for noncompliance with rental agreement.
Section 34-18-37. - Termination of periodic tenancy.
Section 34-18-38. - Eviction for unlawfully holding over after termination or expiration of tenancy.
Section 34-18-38.2. - Just cause needed for eviction of foreclosed residential property tenants.
Section 34-18-39. - Failure to maintain.
Section 34-18-40. - Remedies for abandonment.
Section 34-18-41. - Waiver of landlord’s right to terminate.
Section 34-18-42. - Landlord liens — Distraint for rent abolished.
Section 34-18-43. - Remedy after termination.
Section 34-18-44. - Self-help recovery of possession prohibited.
Section 34-18-45. - Landlord and tenant remedies for abuse of access.
Section 34-18-46. - Retaliatory conduct prohibited.
Section 34-18-48. - Execution.
Section 34-18-49. - Payment of rent on stay of execution.
Section 34-18-50. - Payment of moving costs required.
Section 34-18-51. - Issuance of execution on nonpayment of rent.
Section 34-18-52. - Payment of rent during pendency of appeal.
Section 34-18-53. - Dismissal of appeal for nonpayment of rent during pendency of appeals.
Section 34-18-54. - Savings clause.
Section 34-18-55. - Severability.
Section 34-18-56. - Notices and complaint forms.
Section 34-18-57. - Providence and Warwick Absentee Landlord Enforcement Act.