Section 34-18-2 - Purposes - Rules of construction(a) This chapter shall be liberally construed and applied to promote its underlying purposes and policies.(b) Underlying purposes and policies of this chapter are to: (1) Simplify, clarify, modernize and revise the law governing the rental of dwelling units and the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants;(2) Encourage landlords and tenants to maintain and improve the quality and availability of housing;(3) Make more uniform the law relating to residential landlord and tenant relations in those respects in which this chapter follows the "Uniform Residential Landlord - Tenant Act".