Landlord Guide to Renting in Connecticut

Connecticut allows both written and oral lease agreements. However, leases for a term of one year or more must be in writing under the Statute of Frauds (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-550). Written leases should clearly set out rent, lease term, security deposit terms, and maintenance responsibilities.

• Leases of one year or more must be in writing (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-550)
• Month-to-month tenancies arise when no written lease exists or a fixed-term lease expires without renewal
• Lease terms that waive tenants' rights under Title 47a are void (§ 47a-4)
• Landlords must provide a copy of the signed lease to the tenant

Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21, landlords may charge a security deposit of up to two months' rent. For tenants age 62 or older, the maximum is one month's rent. The deposit must be held in an escrow account at a Connecticut bank, and the landlord must pay annual interest on the deposit at a rate set by the banking commissioner.

• Maximum deposit: two months' rent (one month for tenants age 62+) (§ 47a-21)
• Must be held in an escrow account at a Connecticut financial institution
• Landlord must pay annual interest on the deposit to the tenant
• Interest accrues from the date of deposit and must be paid annually or credited to rent

Connecticut landlords must make specific disclosures at or before the commencement of a tenancy. State law and federal law both impose disclosure obligations.

• Lead-based paint disclosure for properties built before 1978 (42 U.S.C. § 4852d)
• Disclosure of known lead hazards in the unit (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-7f for child-occupied facilities)
• Name and address of the owner and authorized managing agent (§ 47a-6)
• Fire and safety code compliance — landlords must provide smoke and carbon monoxide detectors (§ 29-292)
• Common interest community disclosure if applicable

Rent is due on the date specified in the lease. Connecticut provides a statutory 9-day grace period for rent payments: landlords may not charge a late fee until the rent is 9 days overdue (§ 47a-15a). Late fees must be reasonable and are typically capped at a percentage of the overdue rent.

• Statutory 9-day grace period before a late fee may be charged (§ 47a-15a)
• Late fees must be reasonable — courts have generally upheld fees of up to 5% of rent
• Landlords may not require tenants to pay rent exclusively by electronic means unless the tenant agrees
• Receipts must be provided for cash payments upon request

Landlords must maintain residential premises in compliance with the applicable building, housing, and health codes and in a condition fit for human habitation (§ 47a-7). This includes functional plumbing, heating, electrical systems, hot water, and common area maintenance. The warranty of habitability cannot be waived.

• Maintain the premises in a fit and habitable condition (§ 47a-7)
• Comply with all applicable building, housing, and health codes
• Provide functioning plumbing, heating, hot water, and electrical systems
• Keep common areas clean and safe

Connecticut requires landlords to give reasonable notice before entering a rental unit. While the statute (§ 47a-16) does not specify a minimum number of hours, reasonable notice typically means at least 24 hours. Entry must be at reasonable times and for legitimate purposes such as repairs, inspections, or showing the property.

• Reasonable notice required — 24 hours is the common standard (§ 47a-16)
• Entry must occur at reasonable times for lawful purposes
• Permitted purposes include repairs, inspections, and showing the unit to prospective tenants or buyers
• No notice required in emergencies

Connecticut does not have statewide rent control, though some municipalities may have local ordinances. Landlords may raise rent by any amount at the end of a lease term. For month-to-month tenancies, landlords must provide written notice before the increase takes effect.

• No statewide rent control — check local municipal ordinances
• Rent increases on month-to-month tenancies require adequate written notice
• Rent increases cannot be retaliatory (§ 47a-20) or discriminatory
• During a fixed-term lease, rent cannot be raised unless the lease permits it

The notice period to terminate a tenancy in Connecticut depends on the type of tenancy and the reason for termination. Lease violations and nonpayment each have specific timelines.

• Month-to-month tenancy: 3 days' written notice by either party (§ 47a-23)
• Fixed-term lease: terminates at the end of the lease term without additional notice
• Nonpayment of rent: landlord must issue a 3-day notice to quit (§ 47a-23)
• Lease violations: landlord must issue a 15-day notice to quit giving the tenant time to cure (§ 47a-15)

Evictions in Connecticut are called summary process actions and are filed in the Superior Court — Housing Session. The landlord must first serve a proper notice to quit before filing the court action. The process is governed by Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-23 et seq.

• Serve the appropriate notice to quit (3 days for nonpayment, 15 days for lease violations)
• After the notice period expires, file a summary process complaint in Housing Court
• The court will schedule a hearing — the tenant must be served with the complaint and summons
• If the court rules for the landlord, an execution (eviction order) is issued

Under § 47a-21, landlords must return the security deposit plus accrued interest within 30 days after the tenant moves out or within 15 days after receiving the tenant's forwarding address, whichever is later. An itemized statement of any deductions must be included.

• Return deadline: 30 days after move-out or 15 days after receiving forwarding address, whichever is later (§ 47a-21)
• Must include accrued interest with the returned deposit
• An itemized list of deductions must accompany any withheld amount
• Failure to comply may result in double damages — the landlord may owe twice the deposit amount