Residential Sublease Agreement - Rhode Island
Residential Sublease Agreement — Rhode Island
Before you use this: Attach the complete master lease and document any authorization it or a housing program requires. Complete the fee, utility, contact, and insurance disclosures. Attach the landlord's current general-liability insurance declaration page and any federal or local addenda that apply.
This Agreement is made on [__/__/____] between [PRIMARY TENANT FULL NAME] (“Sublessor”) and [SUBTENANT FULL NAME] (“Subtenant”). The owner or primary landlord is [NAME] (“Primary Landlord”).
1. Premises, master lease, and authorization
Address: [STREET, UNIT, CITY, RHODE ISLAND ZIP]. Space: ☐ Entire dwelling ☐ [ROOM/AREA] with shared use of [COMMON AREAS]. Master lease dated: [__/__/____]. Master lease ends: [__/__/____]. The complete master lease, amendments, and applicable rules are attached as Exhibit A and delivered to Subtenant.
Master-lease subletting provision: [SECTION AND TERMS / NONE]. Authorization: ☐ Exhibit A permits this sublease without further consent. ☐ Primary Landlord's written consent is attached as Exhibit B or signed below. ☐ Required housing-program authorization is attached as Exhibit B. Subtenant will not take possession before required authorization is documented. Sublessor remains responsible under the master lease and cannot grant more or longer possession than Sublessor holds.
2. Fixed term, rent, fees, and utilities
This sublease begins [__/__/____] and ends [__/__/____], no later than the lawful end of the master lease. An extension requires a signed writing and any required Primary Landlord consent. Termination and possession remain subject to applicable law.
Monthly rent: $[____], due on day [____] to [PAYEE] by [METHOD] at [ADDRESS/ACCOUNT]. First partial period: $[____] for [DATES], due [__/__/____]. Every fee beyond rent for this unit, with amount/formula, due date, and purpose: [LIST / NONE]. Additional fees may apply only if disclosed here and permitted by law. Renter's insurance: ☐ Required, terms [DETAILS] ☐ Not required. No late fee or interest charge is agreed unless expressly listed in the fee field above.
Utilities included in rent: [LIST / NONE]. Utilities paid by Subtenant: [LIST / NONE]. Utility account or allocation details: [DETAILS]. The agreed rent governs this fixed term. A proposed increase for a continuing tenancy requires a lawful agreement or basis and at least 60 days' written notice before it takes effect, subject to an applicable housing-program rule. The statutory 120-day period applies to a month-to-month tenant over age 62.
3. Security deposit and return
Subtenant pays Sublessor a refundable security deposit of $[____ / ZERO], no more than one month's periodic rent. No separate furniture deposit is collected. Sublessor may deduct only unpaid accrued rent, reasonable cleaning or trash-disposal expense, and physical damage beyond ordinary wear caused by Subtenant's statutory noncompliance, as R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19 permits.
Sublessor will send Subtenant a written itemization of deductions and the balance due within 20 days after the latest of tenancy termination, delivery of possession, and Subtenant's provision of a forwarding address for the deposit. Forwarding address: [ADDRESS / TO BE PROVIDED].
4. Use, repairs, and entry
Permitted occupants: [NAMES]. Pets: [TERMS / NONE]. Parking/storage: [TERMS / NONE]. Attached rules: [IDENTIFY / NONE]. Subtenant will keep the dwelling reasonably clean, report needed repairs promptly, and avoid damage beyond ordinary wear. Sublessor's repair/service commitments: [DETAILS]. Sublessor will coordinate Primary Landlord's duties and keep the premises fit and habitable as required by law.
For an ordinary inspection, repair, agreed service, or showing, Sublessor will give at least two days' notice unless impracticable and enter at a reasonable time. Subtenant will not unreasonably withhold consent. Emergency entry and the statutory exceptions for an absence exceeding seven days, court order, abandonment, or surrender follow R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-26. Neither party will abuse access.
5. Contacts, insurance, and surrender
Person authorized to manage the premises — name, address, phone number: [DETAILS]. Owner or authorized person for service of process and receiving notices/demands — name, address, phone number: [DETAILS]. Sublessor will provide these written contacts at or before occupancy and keep them current. Sublessor repair and notice contact: [DETAILS]. Subtenant notice address and phone: [DETAILS].
☐ Current general-liability insurance declaration page for the premises, required by R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-22(a)(7), attached to the written sublease. Sublessor will coordinate delivery of a new page with each policy renewal.
At the lawful end of possession, Subtenant will vacate, remove personal property, return keys to [PERSON], leave the dwelling reasonably clean subject to ordinary wear, and provide a forwarding address. The protected early-termination route under R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-63 for a qualifying survivor of abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking remains available upon statutory verification; Sublessor will keep that information confidential as the statute requires.
6. Exhibits and signatures
- Exhibit A: Complete master lease, amendments, and rules: ☐ Attached and delivered.
- Exhibit B: Primary Landlord and any housing-program authorization: ☐ Attached ☐ Signed below.
- Insurance declaration page: ☐ Attached.
- Other applicable federal, local, or program disclosures: [LIST / NONE APPLICABLE].
Rhode Island law governs. No term waives a nonwaivable right. An unenforceable term does not cancel the remaining lawful terms. Changes require a writing signed by both parties and any required consenting person. Each party receives a signed copy.
Sublessor: [SIGNATURE] Date: [__/__/____] Printed name: [________________]
Subtenant: [SIGNATURE] Date: [__/__/____] Printed name: [________________]
Primary Landlord authorization, if required: I authorize this specific sublease; this signature alone does not release Sublessor from the master lease.
Primary Landlord/agent: [SIGNATURE] Date: [__/__/____] Printed name/capacity: [________________]
About this template
- Last updated
- September 27, 2026
- Citations checked
- September 27, 2026
- Jurisdiction
- Rhode Island
- Category
- Landlord & Tenant
Legal authority
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-11(10), as amended by R.I. P.L. 2026, ch. 148, § 1
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-15(a)
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-16.1(a)-(c)
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19(a)-(b)
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-20(a)-(b)
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-22(a)(1)-(2), (7)
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-26(a)-(d)
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-63, added by R.I. P.L. 2026, ch. 148, § 2
Landlord-tenant paperwork governs who can stay in a property, on what terms, and what happens when something goes wrong. Leases, notices to quit, security deposit demands, and habitability complaints all have state and often city-specific requirements for timing, content, and service. Getting the paperwork right is what makes an eviction actually succeed or a security deposit actually come back, because judges regularly dismiss cases over small procedural mistakes.
Not legal advice
This template is provided for informational purposes. We recommend having an attorney review any legal document before signing, especially for high-value or complex matters.
Checked against the law it cites
A reviewer verified this template's legal citations against the official source on September 27, 2026.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-11(10), R.I. P.L. 2026, ch. 148, § 1 (checked September 27, 2026): "‘Landlord’ means the owner, lessor, or sublessor of the dwelling unit or the building of which it is a part, and it also means a manager of the premises who fails to disclose as required by § 34-18-20"
R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-15(a) (checked September 27, 2026): "If there are fees beyond the rent that apply to the rental of a unit, the lease shall disclose those fees in the same section as the rent disclosure and shall indicate that additional fees may apply."
R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-16.1(a)-(c) (checked September 27, 2026): "Prior to an increase in rent being imposed by a landlord for a residential tenancy, excluding an independent living facility, assisted living facility, or congregate care facility, notice of the increase shall be given in writing to any tenant by a landlord at least sixty (60) days prior to the effective date of the increase."
R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19(a)-(b) (checked September 27, 2026): "A landlord may not demand or receive a security deposit, however denominated, in an amount or value in excess of one month's periodic rent."
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