The following notice must be given by the licensee to the tenant prior to occupancy:

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 31-44-8

  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • in writing: include printing, engraving, lithographing, and photo-lithographing, and all other representations of words in letters of the usual form. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-16
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • Licensee: means any person or agent licensed under § 31-44-1. See Rhode Island General Laws 31-44-1
  • Mobile and manufactured home: means a detached residential unit designed:

    (i)  For a long term occupancy and containing sleeping accommodations, a flush toilet, and a tub or shower bath and kitchen facilities, and having both permanent plumbing and electrical connections for attachment to outside systems;

    (ii)  To be transported on its own wheels or on a flatbed or other trailer or detachable wheels; and

    (iii)  To be placed on pads, piers, or tied down, at the site where it is to be occupied as a residence complete and ready for occupancy, except for minor and incidental unpacking and assembly operations and connection to utilities systems. See Rhode Island General Laws 31-44-1

  • Owner: means a licensee or permittee or any person who owns, operates, or maintains a mobile- and manufactured-home park. See Rhode Island General Laws 31-44-1
  • park: means a plot of ground upon which four (4) or more mobile and manufactured homes, occupied for residential purposes are located. See Rhode Island General Laws 31-44-1
  • Prospective resident: means an applicant for admission to a mobile- and manufactured-home park who is ready, willing, and able to buy a mobile and manufactured home owned and offered for sale by a licensee or resident, and who is able to meet the entrance requirements of the rules of the park. See Rhode Island General Laws 31-44-1
  • Reprisal: means any act taken against the resident(s) which is intended as a penalty for any protected lawful action taken by the resident(s). See Rhode Island General Laws 31-44-1
  • Resident: means an owner or renter occupying a mobile and manufactured home in a mobile- and manufactured-home park with the consent of the owner as defined in subdivision (11) of this section. See Rhode Island General Laws 31-44-1

“The terms of your tenancy must be in accordance with the Rhode Island Mobile and Manufactured Home Act, title 31, chapter 44. Section 31-44-3 requires all the rules and regulations governing your tenancy to be fair and reasonable. Unreasonable rules, or those not in compliance with §?31-44-3, cannot be enforced against you.

“No licensee may offer a mobile and manufactured home or a mobile and manufactured home space or lot for rent without showing to the prospective resident a copy of the written lease before the resident occupies that mobile and manufactured home space or lot. No licensee may rent a mobile and manufactured home or mobile and manufactured home space or lot until a written lease has been signed by the resident and the owner. The term of the lease shall not be less than one year unless the resident requests, in writing, a term for less than one year, or requests in writing that he or she does not desire a written lease.

“The licensee of this park shall not require you to deal exclusively with a certain fuel dealer or other merchant for goods or services in connection with the use or occupancy of your mobile and manufactured home lot unless that restriction is necessary to protect the health, safety, or welfare of mobile and manufactured home residents in the park. If you are required to deal with a certain dealer or merchant, the price you pay for such goods or services may not be more than the prevailing price in this locality for similar goods and services.

“An increase in fees or rent, nonrenewal of lease, refusal to offer a lease, or termination of tenancy which is taken against you by a licensee as a penalty for reporting a violation of the Mobile and Manufactured Home Act or of any applicable building or health code, or for any other justified complaint to a governmental authority is a reprisal and is prohibited by law.”

History of Section.
P.L. 1984, ch. 382, § 2; P.L. 1993, ch. 309, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 119, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 146, § 1.