Overview of Landlord-Tenant Laws in Connecticut

A rundown of the key laws every Connecticut landlord and tenant needs to know.

By Ann O’Connell , Attorney UC Berkeley School of Law Updated 3/18/2024

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Connecticut laws govern much of the landlord-tenant relationship, including security deposits, late rent, and evictions. Here's a breakdown of key laws that affect nearly all Connecticut landlords and tenants.

Rental Application and Tenant Screening Laws

Connecticut landlords aren't allowed to charge rental application fees, nor can they charge move-in or move-out fees. (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-4d (2024).)

Tenant Screening Reports

A tenant screening report is a credit report, criminal background report, employment history report, or rental history report that a landlord uses to determine whether an applicant would be an acceptable tenant.

Connecticut landlords can obtain tenant screening reports for prospective tenants, but can't charge more than $50 (adjustable for inflation) for the report. Any landlord that charges a fee for a tenant screening report must provide the tenant with a copy of the report and a copy of the receipt from the entity that conducted the screening report. (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-4d (2024).)

Fair Housing Laws

All landlords need to follow federal and state antidiscrimination laws when screening applicants for a rental. Federal fair housing laws prohibit landlords from discriminating on the basis of:

Connecticut law also bars landlords from discriminating on the basis of:

(Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46a-64c (2024).)

Connecticut is also one of the only states to prohibit discrimination on the grounds of a past conviction for possession of a cannabis-type substance or for a past conviction for possession of four or fewer ounces of cannabis plant material. (Landlords can prohibit smoking or vaping of cannabis at the rental, but can't prohibit its possession or consumption.) (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-9a (2024).)

For more information about Connecticut's fair housing laws, check out the website for the Connecticut Fair Housing Center.

Security Deposit Laws

Connecticut caps the amount of security deposit a landlord can collect based on the tenant's age.

(Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(b) (2024).)

Security Deposit Return

Landlords must return the security deposit in full, plus interest, the later of no more than 21 days after the end of a tenancy or 15 days after receiving written notice of the tenant's forwarding address.

If the landlord keeps any of the security deposit to cover unpaid rent or damage to the rental, the landlord must provide the balance of the security deposit (if any) after the deductions, along with an itemized statement of the deductions.

If the landlord violates these laws, they are liable for two times the amount of the security deposit. (However, if the landlord only fails to pay interest, the landlord is liable for $10 or twice the amount of the accrued interest, whichever is greater.) If the failure to return the security deposit is intentional, the landlord can be liable for up to $250. (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21 (2024).)

Late Fees, Disclosures, and Other Rent Rules

In Connecticut, rent is due on whatever day the landlord and tenant agree to. However, Connecticut landlords do need to give tenants a grace period for paying rent.

Grace Periods and Late Fees

Connecticut landlords can't consider rent late until nine days after the due date. if the lease or rental agreement gives the tenant a longer grace period for paying rent, the landlord must honor it.

A late fee can be assessed after nine days, but can't be more than the lesser of:

The landlord can't assess more than one late charge, regardless of how long the rent remains unpaid. (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-15a (2024).) Landlords and tenants can't agree to waive the grace period. (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-4 (2024).)

Required Landlord Disclosures in Connecticut

In many states, landlords must disclose specific information to tenants and potential tenants. Connecticut landlords must disclose information about:

Landlords must also offer the tenant the opportunity to conduct a walk-through of the rental at or after the time of signing a lease, but before the tenant moves in. The landlord must fill out a walk-through checklist prepared by the Commissioner of Housing. Both the landlord and tenant must sign the checklist, and each must get a copy. (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-7c (2024).)

Landlords in all states, though, must follow federal lead-based paint disclosure rules.

Form of Rent

Connecticut landlords can't require tenants to pay rent via electronic funds transfer—they must give tenants the option of other payment forms, such as cash or check. (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-4c (2024).)

Rent Increases

Connecticut landlords can't raise the rent during the term of a lease unless the lease specifically allows them to do so. For month-to-month tenancies, Connecticut doesn't specify an amount of notice landlords must give to raise the rent.

Fair Rent Laws

Although Connecticut doesn't have rent control, towns and cities in Connecticut with populations of 25,000 or more must adopt laws that create a fair rent commission. The purpose of these commissions is to respond to complaints that landlords are charging unfair rents. The commissions consider factors such as the rent for similar units in the area, the size of the unit, and the condition of the unit to determine whether the rent is fair. (Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 7-148b and 7-148c (2024).)

Connecticut Landlords Must Provide Habitable Rentals

Like landlords in all states, Connecticut landlords must provide rentals that are safe and fit for human habitation. Specifically, Connecticut landlords must:

(Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-7 (2024).)

Tenant Rights to Withhold Rent and Other Remedies in Connecticut

When a landlord fails to supply heat, running water, hot water, electricity, gas, or other essential service, the tenant must give notice of the problem to the landlord. The tenant can choose to:

If the tenant chooses to find substitute housing, the tenant doesn't have to pay rent during the time of the landlord's failure to provide the essential service. The tenant can also recover the actual costs of the substitute housing up to an amount equal to their rent. (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-13 (2024).)

Small Claims Lawsuits in Connecticut

If you find yourself in a battle over a security deposit or repairs, small claims court is a good place to bring your grievance. Small claims courts in Connecticut can hear cases in which the plaintiff—the person suing—isn't asking for more than $5,000, and is asking the court only for money damages. Tenants who are seeking the return of their security deposit can request more than $5,000, though. (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 51-15 (2024).)

Small claims court procedures tend to be simpler than those of regular courts, and although Connecticut allows parties to have lawyers, many people represent themselves.

Termination and Eviction Rules

Connecticut landlords must follow very specific rules and procedures in order to terminate a tenancy and then, if necessary, file an eviction lawsuit (also called a "summary process action" in Connecticut).

Notice of Termination for Cause

A landlord who wants to evict a tenant in Connecticut before the lease or rental agreement has expired must have cause—in other words, a legally valid reason to terminate the tenancy.

In Connecticut, reasons to terminate the tenancy before the lease expires include:

(Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-15 (2024).)

When a landlord wants a tenant to leave for one of these reasons, the landlord must first terminate the tenancy. This is done by giving the tenant notice—the type of notice depends on the situation.