State Specific Question About: RHODE ISLAND (RI)

I am somewhat new to being a landlord. I have owned a two tenament home in which I live on the first floor for three years and am having difficulties with the current tenants which are the third ones. They pay their rent mostly on time or just a few days late. The problem lies with the noisy conditions after 9 pm and the drucken parties and I also suspect that I have smelled pot. We call and ask to be quiter very politely. Sometimes they are and sometimes not. They have many people stay over sometimes for weeks at a time when we only ask them to let us know if someone stays more that a few days in case of a fire we can tell someone how many people are there to get out. The 12 month lease asks to be quiet after 9 pm and to inform us of stay overes. It states that if no new lease is signed then they are presumed to be on a month to month with the same lease terms. After them being here for 16 months we gave them a Notice of Rent Increase of $30.00 a month to help recover the water & sewer costs from the extra showeres being taken, etc.. They refused to sign it and said they would move and begin looking for somewhere else. In the last two days I have not been able to sleep because they are making more excessive noise than ever before. My income is very limited and I need advice.

Thanks,

Sandy,

This situation will in all likelihood continue to deteriorate. You have lost control of these tenants, and it doesn’t sound like they are the kind of people you want living above you.

If you don’t get explicit advice from someone on this board regarding your local laws on eviction, please contact your local LL association and get the name of an attorney who will lead you through getting these people out. I suspect you will be advised that your first step will be to give tenants written notice of termination.

Keep us posted.

Bill