Security Deposit Not Returned in Rhode Island: What Can I Do?
This page covers getting your security deposit back in Rhode Island. It explains the return deadline, what a landlord can take out, and what you can ask a court for.
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A Rhode Island landlord must send you a written notice and the deposit money due to you within 20 days. The 20 days start on the latest of three dates. One is the end of the tenancy (your time as a renter). One is delivery of possession (handing over the home). One is the day you give the landlord a forwarding address for the deposit.
✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026
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Give your landlord your forwarding address in writing, and keep a copy. Rhode Island's 20-day deposit deadline can start from the day you give it.
✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026
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A Rhode Island landlord may take these amounts out of your deposit: unpaid rent that is owed, reasonable cleaning costs, and reasonable trash removal costs. The landlord may take out the cost of physical damage to the home, other than ordinary wear and tear (normal use over time). That applies only to damage the landlord suffered because you did not meet a tenant duty in § 34-18-24. One duty is to keep the part of the home you use clean and safe.
Rhode Island General Assembly R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19(b) Rhode Island General Assembly R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-24(2)✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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In Rhode Island, a landlord may take physical damage out of your deposit only if you caused it by not meeting a tenant duty. One duty is to not deliberately or negligently (carelessly) destroy, deface (mark up), damage, impair (make worse), or remove any part of the home.
Rhode Island General Assembly R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19(b) Rhode Island General Assembly R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-24(6)✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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Your Rhode Island landlord must send you a written notice that lists each amount taken out of your deposit. The landlord must send the notice together with the rest of the deposit that is due to you.
✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026
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Keep your lease, your move-out photos, and every letter or message about your deposit. You may need them if you ask a court for your money.
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A Rhode Island landlord has 20 days to send your deposit balance and a written list of what was taken out. The 20 days start on the last of these days: the rental ends, you hand over the home, or you give a forwarding address. If the landlord does not, you may get the amount due to you and reasonable lawyer fees. You get this money only if you win your case and your landlord pays.
✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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If a Rhode Island landlord breaks the deposit law, you may get twice the amount kept without a legal right to it. Example: if a landlord kept $500 without a legal right, twice that is $1,000.
You get this money only if you win your case and your landlord pays.
✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026
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Say your Rhode Island landlord sells the building. Whoever holds the landlord's interest when your tenancy (your time as a renter) ends is bound by the deposit law.
✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026
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A Rhode Island lease cannot take away your rights under the security deposit law. No rental agreement may contain any giving up of that law.
✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026
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