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Security Deposit Return in Rhode Island

September 27, 2026 · LawDiver Research Team

The cap is 1 month's rent. The return deadline is 20 days after termination of the rental agreement / surrender of possession, with an itemized list of deductions. Interest: No statewide interest requirement. That is what separates Rhode Island getting a security deposit back from a generic national summary. Read R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19 before the background sections below. Wrongful withholding can support damages of twice the amount due plus attorney fees under the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act.

When the deposit must be returned

20 days after termination of the rental agreement / surrender of possession, with an itemized list of deductions

Interest and accounting

No statewide interest requirement.

Penalties for wrongful withholding

Wrongful withholding can support damages of twice the amount due plus attorney fees under the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act.

A concrete Rhode Island scenario

Here is one way the Rhode Island pieces fit together. Change any fact and the statute may point somewhere else.

A residential tenant moves out of a Rhode Island rental and the landlord has not returned the deposit.

Check the cap that applied when the deposit was collected: 1 month's rent.
Calendar the return deadline: 20 days after termination of the rental agreement / surrender of possession, with an itemized list of deductions
Interest, if any: No statewide interest requirement.
If the landlord keeps money without the required accounting: Wrongful withholding can support damages of twice the amount due plus attorney fees under the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act.

Rhode Island caps most deposits at one month’s rent and requires return with itemization within 20 days. Double damages can apply for wrongful withholding. District Court handles many disputes.

Practical process for tenants and landlords

Rhode Island caps most deposits at one month’s rent and requires return with itemization within 20 days. Double damages can apply for wrongful withholding. District Court handles many disputes.

Document the unit with dated photos or video at move-in and move-out, keep the lease and any inspection checklist, and send a dated written demand if the deadline passes without a lawful accounting.

Case law: security deposits in Rhode Island

BIBBY’S REFRIGERATION, HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. v. Robert G. SALISBURY, D/B/A Round House Tavern

BIBBY’S REFRIGERATION, HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. v. Robert G. SALISBURY, D/B/A Round House Tavern, 1992 R.I. LEXIS 37 (1992)

…geration $63.60 per month for thirty-six months plus a $100 security deposit. The agreement also provided defendant an option to purchase the machine outright at the end of the first year of the rental agreement by making a lump-sum payment of the remaining two years’ rent. According to Peter Bibby (Bibby), at the end of the first year he telephoned defendant in order to determ…

BIBBY’S REFRIGERATION, HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. v. Robert G. SALISBURY, D/B/A Round House Tavern is worth reading on Rhode Island security deposits because the court put the point in its own words: "The agreement also provided defendant an option to purchase the machine outright at the end of the first year of the rental agreement by making a lump-sum payment of the remaining two years’ rent." Use that passage as the starting point, then read the facts that precede it.

Karolina Strzebinska vs. Anisim Jary, Ex.

Karolina Strzebinska vs. Anisim Jary, Ex., 58 R.I. 496 (1937)

…at the “only way to get her evidence before the court is by deposition”, counsel for the appellant formally moved that the case be taken from the jury and passed so that he might take his client’s deposition in Poland. The trial justice instead of ruling on this motion instructed counsel to present further evidence on the question of appellant’s identity and relationship, if an…

Rhode Island opinions such as Karolina Strzebinska vs. Anisim Jary, Ex. are cited where security deposits is disputed. The court stated: "at the “only way to get her evidence before the court is by deposition”, counsel for the appellant formally moved that the case be taken from the jury and passed so that he might take his client’s deposition in Poland. The trial justice instead of ruling on this motion instructed" That is the language to brief; the rest of the decision supplies the procedural posture.

SOPHIE F. BRONOWISKI MULLIGAN IRREVOCABLE TRUST v. Todd Arthur BRIDGES

SOPHIE F. BRONOWISKI MULLIGAN IRREVOCABLE TRUST v. Todd Arthur BRIDGES, 2012 R.I. LEXIS 39 (2012)

…nt also suggested that he and plaintiff agreed to apply his security deposit toward the last month’s rent. On July 21, 2010, a trial was held before a justice of the Superior Court, sitting without a jury. The plaintiff was represented by counsel; defendant represented himself. The plaintiffs first witness was Ronald Dwight, who testified about the nature of the property and th…

On security deposits, SOPHIE F. BRONOWISKI MULLIGAN IRREVOCABLE TRUST v. Todd Arthur BRIDGES speaks to the Rhode Island dispute in this passage: "On July 21, 2010, a trial was held before a justice of the Superior Court, sitting without a jury. The plaintiff was represented by counsel; defendant represented himself." The surrounding opinion shows how the court applied that language to the record.

R.A. Beaufort & Sons, Inc. vs. Frank J. Trivisonno Et Ux.

R.A. Beaufort & Sons, Inc. vs. Frank J. Trivisonno Et Ux., 121 R.I. 835 (1979)

…and the last months of the lease, plus an additional $450 “security deposit.” The sales agreement called for a $1,000 deposit on a selling price of $36,900 with the tenants to take title sometime within the ensuing year. This agreement was signed by the tenants and by a “Raymond R. Beaufort.” Sometime after the sales agreement was signed, the words “R.A. Beaufort & Sons, Inc.…

Rhode Island opinions such as R.A. Beaufort & Sons, Inc. vs. Frank J. Trivisonno Et Ux. are cited where security deposits is disputed. The court stated: "The sales agreement called for a $1,000 deposit on a selling price of $36,900 with the tenants to take title sometime within the ensuing year. This agreement was signed by the tenants and by a “Raymond R. Beaufort.” Sometime after the sales agreement was signed, the words “R.A." That is the language to brief; the rest of the decision supplies the procedural posture.

Tracy GREGOIRE Et Al. v. BAIRD PROPERTIES, LLC Et Al.

Tracy GREGOIRE Et Al. v. BAIRD PROPERTIES, LLC Et Al., 2016 R.I. LEXIS 58 (2016)

…laintiffs “needed to be at his office the next day to pay a security deposit and any back rent and to sign a new lease * [o]r he [would] hav[e] the water and electrical turned off.” Traynor further stated that despite not wanting to leave the property or intending to abandon it, he was required to leave because the property had been condemned. He also explained that he ente…

On security deposits, Tracy GREGOIRE Et Al. v. BAIRD PROPERTIES, LLC Et Al. speaks to the Rhode Island dispute in this passage: "Traynor further stated that despite not wanting to leave the property or intending to abandon it, he was required to leave because the property had been condemned." The surrounding opinion shows how the court applied that language to the record.

Loretta FURLAN v. Douglas FARRAR

Loretta FURLAN v. Douglas FARRAR, 2009 R.I. LEXIS 120 (2009)

…defendant orally agreed that Ms. Furlan would pay $800 as a security deposit and $800 for the first month’s rent. On August 25, 2006, Ms. Furlan then sent defendant a cashier’s check in the amount of $1600. The starting date of the rental period was in dispute at trial. Ms. Furlan contended that the rental period was to begin on October 1, 2006. The defendant disagreed and asse…

On security deposits, Loretta FURLAN v. Douglas FARRAR speaks to the Rhode Island dispute in this passage: "Ms. Furlan would pay $800 as a security deposit and $800 for the first month’s rent. On August 25, 2006, Ms. Furlan then sent defendant a cashier’s check in the amount of $1600. The starting date of the rental period was in dispute at trial. Ms." The surrounding opinion shows how the court applied that language to the record.

Karl OLSEN v. Anna L. DEMAYO.

Karl OLSEN v. Anna L. DEMAYO., 210 A.3d 431 (2019)

…spute arose between the parties regarding the return of the security deposit. For the entire period of the tenancy, Mrs. DeMayo was a resident of the State of Connecticut. On July 7, 2017, nearly two years after the termination of the tenancy, Mr. Olsen filed a complaint in the Second Division District Court, alleging that, for the entire period of his tenancy, Mrs. DeMayo had…

Practitioners open Karl OLSEN v. Anna L. DEMAYO. when Rhode Island security deposits turns on the distinction in this sentence: "For the entire period of the tenancy, Mrs. DeMayo was a resident of the State of Connecticut. On July 7, 2017, nearly two years after the termination of the tenancy, Mr." Do not lift it out of the facts the court was deciding.

In Re ANTHONY M.

In Re ANTHONY M., 2001 R.I. LEXIS 161 (2001)

…es Street in Providence. DCYF paid the initial rent and the security deposit. Ms. Peltier provided weekly, unsupervised visits with respondent and her son while the mother was living in the apartment on Charles Street. However, within six months of respondent’s move to that apartment, she had left two jobs and was evicted for failing to pay rent. The respondent then began shari…

Rhode Island opinions such as In Re ANTHONY M. are cited where security deposits is disputed. The court stated: "Street in Providence. DCYF paid the initial rent and the security deposit. Ms. Peltier provided weekly, unsupervised visits with respondent and her son while the mother was living in the apartment on Charles Street." That is the language to brief; the rest of the decision supplies the procedural posture.

Key takeaways

Maximum deposit: 1 month's rent
Return deadline: 20 days after termination of the rental agreement / surrender of possession, with an itemized list of deductions
Interest: No statewide interest requirement.
Penalties: Wrongful withholding can support damages of twice the amount due plus attorney fees under the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act.
Primary authority: R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19.

Deposit limits in Rhode Island

1 month's rent

Frequently asked questions

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Rhode Island?