Starting on January 1, 2024, a new state law will prohibit landlords, rental agents, and property managers from charging application fees to rental applications - with two exceptions. Landlords and their representatives will be able to charge applicants for the actual cost of conducting (1) a credit check or (2) a criminal background check unless the rental applicant has provided a credit report and BCI/police background check dated no more than 90 days before the day of the application. If the rental applicant is required to pay for a report, the applicant must be provided with a copy of it. The new law helps prevent the practice of rental applicants paying application fees for multiple rentals that often total hundreds of dollars.
Even if the rental applicant provides timely reports, landlords and their representatives will have the right to conduct these and other checks at the landlord’s expense.
The RIAR Forms Committee is updating the RIAR Rental Application to include checkboxes for rental applicants to indicate whether they are providing copies of one or more reports.
For more information, please contact the RIAR Legal Department at 401-432-6945 or email [email protected].
R I Association of REALTORS® &
State-Wide Multiple Listing Service
100 Bignall St
Warwick, RI 02888
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