At a glance
Landlords generally cannot charge a rental application fee and cannot charge for certain applicant-provided screening documents issued within 90 days.
For renters
General application-fee restriction
The statute generally prohibits rental application fees.
90-day document window
If a required official state criminal background check or credit report was issued within 90 days and provided by the renter, no fee for that report may be charged.
Document source matters
Rhode Island’s rule is not identical to Colorado’s portable-report framework; it concerns specified records and screening fees.
For landlords and property teams
Actual-cost ceiling
If a qualifying recent report is not supplied, permissible credit/background-check charges are limited to actual costs.
Provide the paid report
When charging for a screening report under the statute, the applicant must receive a copy.
Independent screening is landlord-funded
A landlord may obtain independent screening at the landlord’s own expense.
Eligibility and fee treatment depend on the exact report, landlord practice and applicable law. This guide is general information, not a legal determination or advice. Use the primary sources and consult qualified counsel for a specific dispute or policy.