Advocates decry ‘dangerous rollbacks' in R.I.'s lead-safe rental registry

Boston Globe

13-06-2025

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'It's already working and it continues to increase the safety and quality of our state's housing stock,' Guo said. 'One of the main goals of the rental registry was to act as a tool for enforcement of existing lead laws."
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The state Lead Hazard Mitigation Act became law 20 years ago, requiring rental units built before 1978 to pass a lead inspection every two years.
'But still, more than 900 children were considered to have an
She said lead exposure is especially prevalent in Providence, Pawtucket,
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Guo said that if there had been no rental registry, many landlords would not have done lead inspections. While no fines have been imposed yet, she said, 'The threat of impending fines and the possibility that tenants could withhold their rent by placing it into escrow was the most powerful motivator.'
Shana Crandell, executive director of Reclaim RI, a 'grassroots housing justice organization,' said the rental registry is working in part because it lets tenants pay rent into escrow if their landlord refuses to take steps to make their apartments safe.
'If landlords want to get their rent checks, they've got to make sure the apartment they're renting out isn't toxic and won't brain damage their tenants,' she said.
But, Crandell said, 'There have been attempts this session to weaken this critical public health tool.' And she called for legislators to 'oppose dangerous rollbacks of the registry' that she said would 'put renters' children at risk of serious harm.'
'This is the time to build on progress, not reverse it,' she said.
Meanwhile, the legislation has received support from landlords such as Scott Bonelli, who submitted written testimony to the Senate Housing and Municipal Government Committee.
'Help the property owner help the situation. We are not the enemy,' he wrote. 'I fully support changes being made so that this law does as it is intended and reduces the burden and cost on the housing market.'
Bonelli said he supports lead-safe housing for 'at-risk occupants.' But, he said, data indicates that about 15 percent of rental households include children under age 6 — the group most vulnerable to lead exposure.
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'Efforts should be targeted toward this specific segment rather than implementing a broad, all-encompassing approach that is unrealistic and unattainable,' Bonelli wrote. 'Overloading an already strained system with additional requirements will not effectively protect children.'
The Rhode Island Coalition of Housing Providers wrote to the House Judiciary Committee in support of the legislation, saying, 'These changes strike a necessary balance between protecting public health and ensuring fair and practical implementation for housing providers.'
The coalition called for restoring a landlord's ability to evict a tenant for nonpayment of rent even if the landlord hasn't yet obtained a lead certificate. 'While lead safety compliance is important, it should not be used as a loophole to prevent landlords from taking necessary legal action against tenants who fail to pay rent,' the group wrote.
The coalition also supported pushing back penalties in the rental registry law until Oct. 1, 2025. 'These changes provide much-needed fairness and feasibility in implementing lead safety measures while maintaining the law's intent of protecting at-risk populations,' the group wrote.
Insurance agent Anthony D. Zelano Sr. also wrote to senators in support of the legislation.
'Rhode Island's lead laws create significant obstacles for insurance companies when it comes to covering homes built before 1978,' he wrote. 'The age of these homes, the costs of inspections and renovations, and the fear of lawsuits all contribute to a challenging environment for insurers.'
But Attorney General
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Neronha warned that a set of four pieces of legislation would 'render the lead registry inoperable, repeal effective enforcement provisions, and allow noncompliant landlords to continue to expose Rhode Island children to the dangers of lead poisoning.'
That would happen, he said, just as new laws are having their intended effect: He said Rhode Island's lead poisoning rate fell by 24 percent in 2024, leaving it with the lowest rate on record.
'I urge the committee to reject this proposed legislation, which would place the financial interests of landlords above the health and safety of children,' Neronha wrote.
Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at