In Rhode Island, a rental application is a document that landlords use to determine whether or not an applicant will be an ideal candidate to rent out an apartment with a landlord. These documents collect personal information from the tenant, such as income, criminal history, and other personal details that would further qualify or disqualify a tenant from renting the property or apartment. In order to promote fairness, these documents must conform to federal fair housing laws. Generally, these applications come with a fee that the applicant must pay. These fees range between $25 and $75.
Rhode Island Laws
Rhode Island caps security deposits at equivalent of one month’s rent. Once a tenant moves out of the property, the landlord has 21 days to return the deposit (R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19).