A Rhode Island 5-day notice to quit for non-payment of rent is a legal document a landlord sends to a tenant to demand overdue rent. State law considers rent overdue once 15 days have passed from the original due date. After 15 days, the landlord can demand the rent payment within five days. Otherwise, the landlord will end the lease, and the tenant will need to leave the property.
If the tenant doesn’t pay and remains on the premises, the landlord can initiate the eviction process for the tenant’s failure to pay rent. The tenant can respond to the complaint at the court hearing. If they don’t attend the court hearing and otherwise fail to contact the landlord, the court will consider them in default.
Governing Law — RI Gen. Laws. § 34-18-35 and § 34-18-56(a).
Grace Period for Rent Payment — 15 days (§ 34-18-35(a)).
