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Rhode Island Notice to Tenants of Intent to Sell

In Rhode Island, a landlord who conveys a rented dwelling in a good faith sale to a bona fide purchaser is relieved of liability under the rental agreement only after giving the tenant written notice of the conveyance that names the buyer and states the buyer's address and telephone number. AI drafts your Rhode Island Notice of Intent to Sell in minutes, with attorney-review available before you deliver it to your tenant.

Introduction

Selling a tenanted property in Rhode Island involves specific legal steps. The most critical is notifying your tenant correctly. A formal, written Notice of Conveyance is not just a courtesy; it's a legal requirement under state law that officially transfers your landlord responsibilities to the buyer. Getting this step right protects you from future liability. This guide breaks down the essential requirements of Rhode Island General Laws, ensuring your property sale is both smooth and legally sound.

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Key Things to Know

  1. 1

    Rhode Island provides no official state form for this notice. Your custom written notice is only valid if it meets the content rules of R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-24.

  2. 2

    Your liability as landlord ends only after the tenant receives a proper written notice of the sale's conveyance. This is a critical legal shield.

  3. 3

    What must the notice include? Three non-negotiable details about the buyer: their full name, their address, and their telephone number.

  4. 4

    A fixed-term lease survives the sale. The new owner inherits the property and the existing lease terms. The tenant's right to occupy is unchanged.

  5. 5

    Need to show the property? You must give the tenant at least two days' advance written notice. Entry is restricted to reasonable hours only.

  6. 6

    For month-to-month tenancies, the rules don't change. A 30-day written notice is still required to terminate or modify the rental agreement.

  7. 7

    The security deposit moves with the property. You must transfer it to the new owner, and you should inform the tenant in writing who now holds their funds.

Key decisions before you file

Before you file a Notice to Tenants of Intent to Sell in Rhode Island, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The Notice to Tenants of Intent to Sell guide walks through them.

Open the Notice to Tenants of Intent to Sell guide

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Notice of Property Sale & Landlord Transfer (Rhode Island)

Date of Notice: ____________________

Tenant(s) Name(s): ____________________

Rental Unit Address: ____________________, Rhode Island, ________

Dear ____________________,

This letter is your formal written notice regarding the sale of the rental property you occupy. Its purpose is to ensure a transparent, legally compliant transition of ownership under Rhode Island law. Please review the following sections, as they contain critical information about your tenancy and new landlord.

1. Notification of Sale and Conveyance

This notice confirms the property at the address above is being sold. I, the undersigned landlord, ____________________ (Current Landlord Name), provide this information per R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-24. Upon completion of a good faith sale and your receipt of this notice, my liabilities under the rental agreement for events occurring post-sale will legally terminate. These duties will be fully assumed by the new owner.

2. Required New Landlord Information

Rhode Island law requires the disclosure of the new owner’s contact details. This information ensures you know who to contact for all tenancy matters post-sale. The purchaser assuming the landlord role is:

  • Full Name(s): ____________________
  • Complete Mailing Address: ____________________
  • Primary Telephone Number: ____________________

Please update your records with this information.

3. Your Lease Status: Unchanged

The sale does not invalidate your existing rental agreement. Your tenant rights are protected.

  • Lease Continuity: Your current lease remains in full force. The new owner is legally obligated to honor all of its terms until expiration.
  • Month-to-Month Tenancies: If your tenancy is month-to-month, the standard thirty (30) day written notice requirement for termination or modification (per R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-37) still applies.

4. Protocol for Property Showings

We will need to show the unit to prospective buyers. We will follow state law strictly.

  • Required Notice: You will receive at least two (2) days of advance written notice before any showing, per R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-26.
  • Reasonable Hours: Entry will only occur during reasonable daytime hours.
  • Tenant Cooperation: Your lease and state law require your cooperation in allowing access. We appreciate your assistance.

5. Your Security Deposit: Transferred

Your security deposit of $____________________ will be handled properly. At closing, the full amount will be transferred to the new owner. From that point, the new owner is solely responsible for managing and returning your deposit according to Rhode Island law. This transfer will be documented.

6. Rent Payment Instructions

Follow this two-step process for rent:

  • Step 1 - Continue Paying Current Landlord: Pay rent to me as usual until you are officially notified the sale has closed.
  • Step 2 - Redirect Payment to New Owner: Once you receive written confirmation that the sale is final, send all future rent payments directly to the new owner using the information in Section 2.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this transition.

Sincerely,

Current Landlord Signature: ____________________

Printed Name: ____________________

Date: ____________________

To build your own document, access the complete guide and resources at (/legal-document/notice-to-tenants-of-intent-to-sell).

Rhode Island Requirements for Notice to Tenants of Intent to Sell

Written Notice of Conveyance

Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-24, a landlord must provide the tenant with written notice of the property's conveyance to be relieved of liability for events occurring after the sale.

Buyer's Full Contact Information

The notice must state the full name(s), address, and telephone number of the person or entity purchasing the property and assuming liability under the rental agreement.

Two Days' Notice for Entry

For the purpose of showing the unit to prospective buyers, Rhode Island law (R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-26) requires the landlord to give the tenant at least two (2) days' advance notice before entering.

Entry at Reasonable Times

In addition to providing two days' notice, the landlord or their agent may only enter the tenant's dwelling at reasonable times to conduct showings.

Continuation of Existing Lease

The sale does not terminate a fixed-term lease. The new owner takes the property subject to the tenant's current rental agreement, and the tenant retains all rights and obligations for the remainder of the lease term.

Month-to-Month Tenancy Notice

If the tenant is on a month-to-month tenancy, Rhode Island requires 30 days' written notice to change the terms or end the arrangement. The sale does not override this requirement.

Security Deposit Transfer

The tenant's security deposit must be transferred to the new owner or otherwise accounted for at closing. The tenant must be informed in writing who is now responsible for holding and returning the deposit.

Documented Delivery Method

Deliver the notice in a manner that provides proof of receipt (e.g., certified mail, personal delivery with signed acknowledgment), as the landlord's relief from liability is contingent on the tenant actually receiving the notice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Rhode Island asks for two days' written notice before I enter to show the place to buyers, and that notice has to name a reasonable time for the visit. That rule comes from R.I. Gen. Laws Section 34-18-26, and it keeps my tenant properly informed of each entry.

A sale doesn't wipe out a fixed-term lease. The agreement follows the property to the new owner, who has to honor every term until it expires. My tenant's rights and duties stay exactly the same; the lease simply carries over with the change in ownership.

There's no state-issued form I'm required to use, so I can draft my own. What the law cares about is that the notice is in writing, gives at least two days' advance warning, and states a reasonable time for the showing to take place.

As long as I've served the two days' written notice and picked a reasonable time, my tenant can't unreasonably say no to the showing. Rhode Island gives me that right of access, and a refusal after I've followed the procedure correctly can count as a breach of the lease.

A month-to-month tenancy rolls on under the new owner until someone ends it properly. Either I or the buyer has to give the tenant 30 days' written notice under R.I. Gen. Laws Section 34-18-37. Skip that notice and the tenancy simply keeps going after the sale closes.

This notice needs three elements: an announcement that I'm putting the property up for sale, an outline of how I'll arrange viewings without disrupting my tenant, and assurance that a current fixed-term lease remains binding straight through the ownership change.

Lean on a delivery method that creates a paper trail. Passing the notice to my tenant face to face qualifies, as does certified mail that sends back a signed card. A channel my written lease sanctions is equally fine. All I need is verifiable proof it arrived.

The deposit simply moves with the keys. At the moment the sale closes, I hand my tenant's deposit over to the buyer, and from then on they carry the responsibility of holding those funds safely and returning them once my tenant's occupancy ends.