Rhode Island Notice to Pay Rent or Quit (5-Day)
Create a free Rhode Island notice to pay rent or quit. Rhode Island requires a 5-day notice to pay rent or quit. Fill in the details, preview it live, and download a PDF or email it.
Rhode Island requirement
Rhode Island requires a 5-day notice to pay rent or quit. Calendar days. Rent must first be 15 days in arrears (§ 34-18-35(a)) before the landlord may send the written demand. The notice then gives the tenant 5 days from the date of mailing to cure (pay the arrears). The eviction complaint may be filed no earlier than the sixth day after mailing. So the practical sequence is: 15-day arrears trigger + 5-day demand.
Tenant Name(s)
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⚠ Rhode Island requires a 5-day notice for a notice to pay rent or quit; the count runs from the date of SERVICE, and some states exclude weekends/holidays — verify before relying on a date. Calendar days. Rent must first be 15 days in arrears (§ 34-18-35(a)) before the landlord may send the written demand. The notice then gives the tenant 5 days from the date of mailing to cure (pay the arrears). The eviction complaint may be filed no earlier than the sixth day after mailing. So the practical sequence is: 15-day arrears trigger + 5-day demand.
Notice to Pay Rent or Quit (Rhode Island)
NOTICE TO PAY RENT OR QUIT
Date of Notice: ________________
From (Landlord/Agent): [LANDLORD/AGENT NAME], [LANDLORD ADDRESS]
To: [TENANT NAME(S)], Tenant(s) in possession of: [PROPERTY ADDRESS]
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that rent is now due and unpaid in the amount of $________. This amount is for unpaid RENT only and excludes late fees, utilities, and other charges unless your state and lease allow them.
You are required to PAY the full amount of rent due within 5 days after this notice is served on you, OR to vacate and surrender possession of the property. Payment must be made to [LANDLORD/AGENT NAME] at [LANDLORD ADDRESS], by cash, check, or money order. If you mail payment, it must be RECEIVED by the deadline.
If you do not comply with this notice within the time stated, the landlord may begin legal proceedings to recover possession of the property under R.I. Gen. Laws Title 34, Chapter 34-18 (Residential Landlord and Tenant Act), §§ 34-18-35, 34-18-36, 34-18-37, 34-18-56.
Only a court can order you to move out. The landlord may NOT lock you out, remove your belongings, or shut off your utilities; doing so is illegal.
This notice is given without waiving, and the landlord expressly reserves, all other rights and remedies, including the right to recover unpaid rent and damages.
How this notice may be served: All statutory eviction notices (5-day demand, noncompliance, periodic-tenancy termination) are served by first-class U.S. mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the tenant, with a certificate of mailing in the form prescribed by § 34-18-56. Notice periods run from the DATE OF MAILING (not receipt). Statutory forms in § 34-18-56(a)-(d) should be used substantially as written.
_______________________________________
[LANDLORD/AGENT NAME] — Landlord / Authorized Agent
[LANDLORD ADDRESS]
Date: ________________
PROOF OF SERVICE
I served this notice on the tenant(s) on ____________ (date).
Method of service (use a method permitted in your state — see the service note above):
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________ Date: ____________
Signature of person serving the notice
Email yourself a copy (PDF)
Self-help template, not legal advice. You cannot remove a tenant yourself — serve a proper notice and, if needed, file in court. Confirm Rhode Island and local rules first.
Rhode Island Notice to Pay Rent or Quit Rules
A Notice to Pay Rent or Quit is the first step a landlord takes when a tenant has not paid rent. It demands that the tenant pay the full amount owed within the state's required number of days or move out, before the landlord can file for eviction.
Rhode Island requires a 5-day notice to pay rent or quit. Calendar days. Rent must first be 15 days in arrears (§ 34-18-35(a)) before the landlord may send the written demand. The notice then gives the tenant 5 days from the date of mailing to cure (pay the arrears). The eviction complaint may be filed no earlier than the sixth day after mailing. So the practical sequence is: 15-day arrears trigger + 5-day demand. The notice is served under R.I. Gen. Laws Title 34, Chapter 34-18 (Residential Landlord and Tenant Act), §§ 34-18-35, 34-18-36, 34-18-37, 34-18-56.
How to Serve a Notice to Pay Rent or Quit in Rhode Island
All statutory eviction notices (5-day demand, noncompliance, periodic-tenancy termination) are served by first-class U.S. mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the tenant, with a certificate of mailing in the form prescribed by § 34-18-56. Notice periods run from the DATE OF MAILING (not receipt). Statutory forms in § 34-18-56(a)-(d) should be used substantially as written. A defective notice or improper service can get an eviction dismissed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days is a Rhode Island notice to pay rent or quit?
Rhode Island requires a 5-day notice to pay rent or quit. Calendar days. Rent must first be 15 days in arrears (§ 34-18-35(a)) before the landlord may send the written demand. The notice then gives the tenant 5 days from the date of mailing to cure (pay the arrears). The eviction complaint may be filed no earlier than the sixth day after mailing. So the practical sequence is: 15-day arrears trigger + 5-day demand.
What happens after I serve the notice?
If the tenant does not comply by the deadline, you can file an eviction case in Rhode Island court. Only a court order, enforced by a sheriff or constable, can remove the tenant.
Can I email or download the notice?
Yes — fill in the form above, then download the PDF or email a copy to yourself. Serve it on the tenant using a method Rhode Island allows.
Disclaimer
This Rhode Island notice to pay rent or quit generator is a self-help tool for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Confirm Rhode Island and local requirements before serving.