Warwick, R.I. – September 19, 2025 – Rhode Island’s housing supply continued to grow in August, a promising trend seen in sales statistics released by the Rhode Island Association of Realtors today. According to Realtor data, all single-family homes on the market would be sold in 2.8 months if no new properties were listed.
The Providence City Council is weighing a proposal called the “Providence Tenant Right of First Refusal Act,” which would place significant new restrictions on property owners seeking to sell multi-family rental housing.
A proposed ordinance has been filed in Providence to prohibit landlords and their listing brokers/representatives from charging a tenant fees for advertising or listing a rental unit. This prohibition applies to other fees, such as administrative, lease preparation, and move-in coordination fees, unless they are tied to a specific service and are “reasonable.”
A proposed Providence Ordinance Amending Chapter 14, “Licenses”, of the Code of Ordinances “Student Housing Providers” would require owners of non-owner occupied property who rent to four or more full-time or part-time post-secondary students in the same building to obtain a license from the City of Providence and pay an annual registration of $500/year per student.
To address a lack of affordable housing in Providence, a Housing Crisis Task Force presented its findings to the Providence City Council in late September.
The 2025 report raises a variety of housing challenges in Providence and recommends a number of solutions. Unfortunately, one of the recommendations is that the City of Providence impose rent stabilization, another name for rent control.
The Rhode Island Association of REALTORS® has approved the following forms changes, which were sent to authorized forms vendors. Please keep in mind that some vendors update at different times.
In order to move operations to its new location, the RI State Health Laboratories (RISHL) will temporarily stop accepting drinking water samples from private well owners for a period beginning September 11, 2025. If any clients require private well testing while services are not available at the RISHL, they can submit samples to another certified drinking water testing lab.