Q: I was served with eviction notice due to non payment of rent for $1,100. The 1,100 listed on the eviction notice is for
Septembers rent. I was served on 10/13/23 and have court date 10/23/23. I was told if I paid the rent owed it would stop the eviction. As of October I owe additional $1,100 but the eviction notice only has Septembers rent listed and I never received a 5 day demand notice for the month of October. Do I need to pay the $1,100 that is listed on the eviction notice or do I need to pay everything owed up until todays date?
A: In Rhode Island, the eviction process for non-payment of rent typically starts with a 5-day demand notice. If the eviction notice you were served only lists the amount due for September, and you were not given a separate 5-day demand notice for October, then technically, the eviction proceeding is based solely on September's unpaid rent. To potentially halt this specific eviction process, you would need to pay the $1,100 listed for September. However, it's worth noting that paying September's rent may not prevent the landlord from initiating a separate eviction proceeding for October's unpaid rent. Before making any payments, you might want to communicate with the landlord to understand their intentions clearly. Always get any agreement in writing. It would be wise to consult with a local attorney to navigate the specifics of your situation.
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