The bill amends Section 34-42-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 34-42, which pertains to "Self-Service Storage Facilities." It introduces changes to the enforcement of an owner's lien on the property stored in such facilities. The amendments include a requirement for the owner to notify the occupant and any other interested parties of a default by delivering a notice in person, by regular mail to the last known address, or by verified electronic mail. The notice must include the balance due and a reminder of the potential enforcement of the owner's lien. If the owner cannot obtain personal service of the second notice or if the certified mail return receipt is not signed, notice by publication is required once in a newspaper of general circulation, with the timeframe for publication notice reduced from three successive weeks to an unspecified duration.

Further changes include the allowance for the owner to deny access to the storage space one day after default, the ability to sell the personal property online, and the reduction of the waiting period after the published notice from thirty days to twenty days before the claim payment deadline. The bill also specifies that the sale of the personal property can be held at the storage facility, the nearest suitable place, or online. It clarifies the rights of purchasers in good faith and the owner's liability for damages due to noncompliance with the sale requirements. Additionally, the owner is not liable for identity theft or harm resulting from the misuse of information in the sold or disposed of property. The bill also addresses the towing of vehicles from the storage space without liability to the owner. The act would take effect upon passage and requires that default notices be sent to the lessee's last known address, with the advertisement of the sale of personal property to be published once on a publicly accessible website.

Statutes affected:
5433  SUB A as amended: 34-42-4
5433  SUB A: 34-42-4
5433: 34-42-4