Section 34-18-56 Notices and complaint forms.

RI Gen L § 34-18-56 (2019) (N/A)

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§ 34-18-56. Notices and complaint forms. (a) A notice in substantially the following language shall suffice for the purpose of giving a tenant a five (5) day demand for payment of rent prior to commencement of an eviction pursuant to § 34-18-35:

TO: ..........................

(tenant)

..........................

You are now more than fifteen days in arrears for some or all of the rent owed under your rental agreement. State law requires that you be sent this Notice of arrearage.

Unless you make payment of all rent in arrears within five days of the date this notice was mailed to you, an eviction action may be instituted in court against you. You can prevent the eviction by paying all rent owing within five days of the mailing of this notice.

If you believe you have a legal reason for not paying this rent, you will be able to present that defense at the eviction hearing. The rent in arrears as of the above date is $...............

..........................

(signature)

..........................

(name and address of land-

lord/owner)

I certify that I placed in regular U.S. mail, first class postage prepaid, a copy of this Notice, addressed to the tenant, on the ........ day of ........................, 19...............................

..........................

(landlord or owner signature)

(b) A notice in substantially the following language shall suffice for the purpose of giving a tenant a notice of noncompliance with the rental agreement pursuant to § 34-18-36:

TO: ..........................

(tenant)

..........................

(address)

You are in breach of your rental agreement, or of your legal duties under R.I.G.L. 34-18-24, because you:

...............................................................................................................................................................................

If you do not remedy this situation within twenty days, your rental agreement will terminate without further notice on .......... (date, which must be not less than twenty-one days from the date of mailing of this Notice). (NOTE: Under the law you lose this right to remedy your noncompliance if this is the second notice on the same subject within the past six months.) After that date an eviction case may begin in court, and you may be served with a complaint. You will have the right to a hearing and to present any defenses you believe you have.

..........................

(signature)

..........................

(name and address of land-

lord/owner)

..........................

(landlord or owner signature)

(c) A notice in substantially the following language shall suffice for the purpose of giving a tenant notice of termination of tenancy pursuant to § 34-18-37:

TO: ..........................

(tenant)

..........................

(address)

You are hereby directed to vacate and remove your property and personal possessions from the premises located at

(address of premises)

and deliver control of the premises to the landlord/owner on the first day after the end of your current rental period, namely .............

(insert date)

This notice is given for the purpose of terminating your tenancy. You must continue to pay rent as it becomes due until the date indicated above. If you fail to pay that rent, a nonpayment eviction action may be instituted against you.

If you fail to vacate the premises by the date specified, an eviction may be instituted against you without further notice. If you believe you have a defense to this termination, you will be able to raise that defense at the court hearing.

..........................

(signature)

..........................

(name and address of land-

lord/owner)

..........................

(landlord or owner signature)

(d) A complaint in substantially the following language shall suffice for the purpose of commencing an eviction action for nonpayment of rent pursuant to § 34-18-35:

1. Plaintiff is the owner/landlord of the rental premises listed above, in which the Defendant Tenant currently resides.

2. Defendant is more than fifteen days in arrears in rental payments due to the plaintiff from the defendant. The rent is $.......... per ...................., and the amount in arrears is $........ as of the .................. day of ............................, 19.................................

(month)

3. Plaintiff has served the five-day demand notice as required by law, and a copy of that notice is attached to this complaint. The notice was mailed to the defendant on the .......... day of .................., 19.......................

4. Defendant has not paid the rent in arrears or offered the full amount in arrears, either before or after the demand notice. Defendant remains in possession of the rental premises.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff requests that this Court grant a judgment for possession of the premises (eviction of the tenant) and for back rent in the amount of $................, plus costs.

....................................................

(Name & address of landlord/owner

or attorney for landlord)

Date complaint

filed with clerk ..........

(e) A complaint in substantially the following language shall suffice for the purpose of commencing an eviction action for noncompliance with the rental agreement pursuant to § 34-18-36, or an eviction action for unlawfully holding over after expiration or termination of the tenancy pursuant to § 34-18-38:

1. Plaintiff Landlord(s) owns the rental premises listed above, in which the Defendant Tenant(s) resides.

2. CHECK ONE:

.... Defendant breached the tenant's obligations under the rented agreement or § 34-18-24 as set forth in the attached copy of the notice of noncompliance which was mailed to the defendant. Defendant has not cured or remedied the breach. (Plaintiff must attach copy of required notice of noncompliance.)

.... Defendant has remained in possession of the rented premises following the period set forth in the attached notice of termination of tenancy which was mailed to defendant. (Plaintiff must attach copy of required termination notice.)

.... Defendant breached the tenants' obligations under § 34-18-24(8), (9) or (10).

3. Plaintiff seeks judgment for possession of the premises plus judgment in the amount of ....................................................

for ................................................................................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................................................................................

(Signature of Landlord/Owner

or Attorney)

....................................................

Date complaint filed

with clerk ..........

(f) A complaint in substantially the following language, or in similar language, shall be sufficient for use by landlords or by tenants to bring any claims or causes of action other than eviction actions:

1. Plaintiff is the .... Tenant ........ Landlord/Owner of the rental premises at ...................................................

(address of rental premises)

2. Defendant is the .... Tenant ........ Landlord/Owner.

3. Plaintiff claims that defendant has breached the obligations of the rental agreement or law in relation to this landlord-tenant relationship, as follows:

(brief description of claim, attach extra sheet, if necessary)

4. Plaintiff seeks the following judgment or relief from the Court:

Date Complaint Filed &nbsp........................................

With Clerk: .......... (Signature of plaintiff or plaintiff's

attorney)

............................................ (address)

(g) The summons in an action for eviction for nonpayment of rent pursuant to § 34-18-35 shall be in substantially the following form:

YOUR HEARING DATE IS: .................................

I hereby certify that I served a copy of the Complaint and Summons & Answer upon the defendant(s) by delivering or leaving said papers in the following manner:

...... to the defendant personally; or

...... at his or her dwelling unit or usual

place of abode at the address listed

below with a person of suitable age

then residing therein; or

...... if none be found, by posting conspicu-

ously on the door to the defendant's

dwelling unit.

ADDRESS OF DWELLING OR USUAL PLACE OF ABODE:

...................................................................................................................................

NAME OF PERSON OF SUITABLE AGE:

...................................................................................................................................

SERVICE DATE: ...................................................................................................................................

DEPUTY SHERIFF/CONSTABLE: ...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

I hereby certify that a copy of this Complaint and Summons was placed into regular U.S. Mail, postage prepaid, on the .................... day of ......................................, 19...., addressed to defendant at the following address:

.................................................

......................................

(Signature of ............ Clerk)

(h) The summons in an action for eviction for noncompliance with the rental agreement pursuant to § 34-18-36, or for unlawfully holding over after termination or expiration of tenancy pursuant to § 34-18-38, shall be in substantially the following form:

I hereby certify that I served a copy of the Complaint, Summons, and Answer form upon the defendant(s) by delivering or leaving said papers in the following manner:

.... to the defendant personally

.... at his/her dwelling unit or usual place of abode at the address listed below, with a person of suitable age then residing therein

.... to an agent named below authorized by appointment or by law to receive service of process

.... further notice as required by law was given as noted below

Address of dwelling or usual place of abode:

................................................................................................................................................................................

Name of person of suitable age or of agent:

................................................................................................................................................................................

Service Date: ....................

Deputy Sheriff/Constable (circle one):

......................................

(Signature)

(signature)

(i) The summons in an action relating to any claims by tenants, or by landlords other than for eviction, shall be in substantially the following form:

You are hereby summoned and required to serve upon the plaintiff's attorney, whose name and address appears above, an answer to the complaint which is herewith served upon you. Your answer must be made within 20 days after service of this summons, excluding the date of service. The original must be filed in writing with this court. If you fail to do so, judgment by default will be taken against you for the relief demanded in the complaint.

I hereby certify that on the date below I served a copy of this summons and a copy of the complaint received herewith upon the above-named defendant by delivering or leaving said papers in the following manner:

☐ to the defendant personally.

☐ at his dwelling house or usual place of abode at the address entered below, with a person of suitable age and discretion then residing therewith.

☐ to an agent named below authorized by appoint-

ment or by law to receive service of process.

☐ Further notice as required by statute was given

as noted on the reverse side.

................................................................................................................................................................................

Address of Dwelling or Usual Place of Abode

................................................................................................................................................................................

Name of Authorized Agent or Person of Suitable Age

................................................................................................................................................................................

Listed below are several possible defenses to the eviction action your landlord has filed against you. If one or more of these defenses apply to your case, check the appropriate box(es). If space is provided, write in facts in support of that defense. Use additional paper if necessary. Some of these defenses are technical, and there may be others not listed here. You may consult a lawyer and seek representation before filling out this Answer.

The complaint against me is untrue or fails to state the following facts:

I offered rent, but my landlord refused it. I am still able and willing to pay the rent.

I have a defense for nonpayment because the landlord has failed to maintain the premises in a fit and habitable condition.

My rent has not been paid, but I have a legally justifiable defense for not paying:

I have a written lease which does not expire until:

I have not received the required notice from the landlord before this complaint was served on me.

The landlord is trying to evict me because I have exercised my legal rights by calling code enforcement officials, or by taking the following protected action:

I have other defenses as follow:

WHEREFORE: Because of the defense(s) indicated above, I ask the court to grant a judgment in my favor and not order me to be evicted.

Instructions: If you believe you are entitled to be awarded damages or money for any reason from your landlord, you may fill out the statement below:

I hereby sue my landlord for the amount of $...............

I believe I am entitled to receive an award of this amount because

.............................................................................................................................................................

................................

Address

................................

Telephone number

History of Section. (P.L. 1986, ch. 200, § 2; P.L. 1988, ch. 649, § 1; P.L. 1989, ch. 229, § 1.)

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