{"id":372144,"date":"2017-09-27T16:10:43","date_gmt":"2017-09-27T21:10:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/connecticut-law\/connecticut-tenant-rights-laws.html"},"modified":"2017-09-27T16:12:12","modified_gmt":"2017-09-27T21:12:12","slug":"connecticut-tenant-rights-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/connecticut-law\/connecticut-tenant-rights-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Connecticut Tenant Rights Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Connecticut Tenant Rights Laws<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Whether you rent an apartment in the middle of Hartford or a townhouse near the beach in Stamford, you’re probably aware of the different types of issues that can come up during a given tenancy. To help resolve these issues, Connecticut has a variety of laws addressing the landlord-tenant relationship<\/a> in addition to federal and local law. Read on to learn more about Connecticut tenant rights laws.<\/p>\r\n

Tenant Rights: From Discrimination to Eviction<\/h2>\r\n

Connecticut has strict laws prohibiting discrimination in housing<\/a> based on race, religion, gender identity, and other protected characteristics. This includes actions such as refusing to rent to someone or offering alternative rental terms based on that person\u2019s protected trait. Violation of these laws is classified as a class D misdemeanor.<\/p>\r\n

Landlords are also required to keep the premises in habitable condition<\/a>. This duty includes complying with building and housing codes that materially affect health and safety and making repairs necessary for habitability, except where the damage was caused by the intentional acts of the tenant or certain people associated with the tenant.<\/p>\r\n

You are also entitled to proper notice before your landlord can end the tenancy. However, unlike most states, Connecticut only requires a three-day notice in most cases. Upon termination, your landlord is required to return your security deposit<\/a> to you within 30 days and must give you a written statement itemizing the nature and amount of deductions taken from the deposit.<\/p>\r\n

Connecticut’s rental laws are meant to protect you within the landlord-tenant relationship. Therefore, you should also know that your landlord may not retaliate against you by raising the rent or attempting to evict you<\/a> simply because you requested repairs or complained to a government authority about a housing or health violation.<\/p>\r\n

Connecticut Tenant Rights Laws at a Glance<\/h2>\r\n

The following chart provides a summary of Connecticut state laws governing the landlord-tenant relationship, including links to key statutes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Statutes<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Security Deposits<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

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  • Limit: No more than two times the amount of monthly rent for tenants under 62; one month for tenants 62 or older<\/li>\r\n
  • Must return all or part of the security deposit within 30 days (with interest in many cases)<\/li>\r\n
  • Part or all may be used only for certain purposes, including:

Paying Rent<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

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  • May not raise rent during lease term (e.g. 1 year lease) unless lease allows; may raise rent upon lease renewal<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Living Conditions<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

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  • With reasonable notice and at reasonable times, landlord may enter unit for certain purposes including:
      \r\n
    • To make necessary repairs<\/li>\r\n
    • Inspect premises<\/li>\r\n
    • Exhibit unit to prospective purchasers or tenants<\/li>\r\n
    • Emergency (no notice required)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n
    • Landlord must maintain habitable unit: conduct repairs (where damage not intentionally caused by tenant), comply with applicable building and housing codes, provide running water, heat, and appropriate trash receptacles, etc.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Discrimination<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

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  • No discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, lawful source of income or familial status<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Ending or Renewing a Tenancy<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

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  • Landlord must give three days’ notice to terminate the tenancy (including for nonpayment of rent); 15 days for violation of rental agreement<\/li>\r\n
  • Eviction: court order required<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Retaliation<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n