Connecticut Landlord Laws

Connecticut is generally considered a tenant-friendly state, with strong legal protections for renters and more regulations placed on landlords compared to landlord-friendly states. The state enforces laws around rent increases, eviction procedures, security deposits, housing habitability, and discrimination prevention. While this can make property management more complex, landlords who understand and follow Connecticut’s rental laws can still operate successful and legally compliant rental businesses.

Landlords in Connecticut are required to comply with a variety of landlord-tenant laws that exist at the federal, state, and local levels. These laws govern areas like lease agreements, rent payments, maintenance duties, eviction timelines, and security deposit handling. Whether you own a single-family rental or a multi-unit building, knowing the legal requirements protects your rental investment and maintains positive tenant relationships.

Connecticut landlord laws are detailed in the Connecticut General Statutes, Title 47a (Landlord and Tenant). While the article below covers many of the state-level requirements, note that local ordinances may impose additional rules, possibly in cities like Hartford, New Haven, or Bridgeport. Always consult the latest statutes or seek guidance from an attorney when in doubt about your legal obligations as a landlord in Connecticut.

Disclaimer: Innago does not provide legal advice. The content and materials provided in this article are for general informational purposes only and many not be the most up-to-date information.

NEW! 2025 Connecticut Rental Laws

The following new rental laws passed in Connecticut in recent years:

• Tenant protections from excessive fees and eviction record harm (SB 998): Beginning in 2024, this omnibus housing reform bill limits late fees to $5 per day (capped at $50 or 5% of rent), requires a 9-day grace period for monthly leases (4 days for weekly), and bans application processing fees altogether. Screening report fees are capped at $50. The bill also establishes a tenant’s right to a pre-move-in walkthrough with their landlord and allows penalties against landlords who fail to maintain safe and sanitary housing. The law also introduces eviction record sealing protections, making it illegal to sell sealed eviction records and ensuring cases dismissed, withdrawn, or ruled in favor of the tenant are removed from public court view within 30 days.

Connecticut Quick Facts

Rights and Responsibilities of Connecticut Landlords and Tenants

Connecticut landlords and tenants each have specific rights and obligations under state law. For instance, landlords are required to maintain safe and sanitary living conditions, while tenants are expected to pay rent on time and use the property responsibly. Although lease agreements outline many of these terms, only provisions that comply with Connecticut law are enforceable.

Below is an overview of the rights and responsibilities for landlords and tenants in Connecticut:

Connecticut landlords have the right to:

• Collect rent as agreed upon in the lease agreement.
• Screen potential tenants, including performing background and credit checks.
• Enter the rental property for inspections, repairs, or showings with proper notice, typically at least 24 hours.
• Receive compensation for damages beyond normal wear and tear, either through deductions from the security deposit or legal action.
• Initiate eviction proceedings for lease violations, nonpayment of rent, or illegal activity, following Connecticut’s eviction laws.

Connecticut landlords are responsible for:

• Providing and maintaining safe, habitable housing, including working plumbing, heat, and electricity.
• Making necessary repairs in a timely manner and complying with applicable health and housing codes.
• Returning the security deposit within 30 days of the tenant vacating, or within 15 days of receiving the tenant’s forwarding address, whichever is later.
• Refraining from retaliatory actions, such as eviction or rent increases, in response to a tenant’s legal complaints or code violation reports.
• Disclosing lead-based paint hazards and other required information under federal and state laws.

Connecticut tenants have the right to:

• Live in a rental unit that upholds codes at the state and local levels for health and safety.
• Privacy, including protection from unreasonable or excessive landlord entry.
• Prompt repairs for major issues such as heat outages or plumbing problems.
• Protection from retaliatory eviction or rent increases after asserting their legal rights.
• Have their security deposit returned within the legal timeframe, with an itemized list of any deductions.

Connecticut tenants are responsible for:

• Paying rent on time and honoring all terms of the lease agreement.
• Keeping the premises clean and free from hazards or damage.
• Notifying the landlord of necessary repairs or safety concerns.
• Refraining from causing damage to the property beyond normal wear and tear.
• Using the property for lawful purposes and not disturbing other tenants’ peaceful enjoyment.

Connecticut Required Disclosures

Required disclosures are bits of information that landlords are required to disclose to tenants before entering into a lease agreement. These disclosures typically pertain to hazards in the property, tenants' rights, or the landlord's policies.

Below are a few of the most important required disclosures in Connecticut.

• Lead-based paint (Title X, Section 1018). Landlords in all 50 states must include information about lead-based paint hazards in the rental agreements for most properties built before 1978. Sellers and landlords must distribute an EPA-approved information pamphlet called “Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home” and disclose any known lead hazards in the property. These obligations were established by Section 1018 of the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992.
• Landlord/Agent Identification (CS § 47a-6). All Connecticut landlords must disclose in writing the name and address of the person authorized to manage the premises and receive notices or demands from all tenants. This is typically done in the lease agreement for the rental property.
• Security Deposit Receipt (CS § 47a-21(h(4A))). Landlords must provide a written notice specifying the amount of a Connecticut security deposit and the name and address of the financial institution where the deposit is being held. This notice must be delivered to the tenant no later than 30 days after the landlord receives the deposit.
• Common Interest Communities (CS § 47a-3e). If the dwelling unit is located within a common interest community, the landlord must provide the tenant with a written notice of this fact before entering into a rental agreement.
• Fire Sprinkler System (CS § 47a-3f). If the rental unit is in a building required to be equipped with a fire sprinkler system, the landlord must include a notice of its existence in the rental agreement. The notice should appear in not less than twelve-point boldface font.
• Bed Bugs (CS § 47a-7a(c)) If the landlord knows that a unit is currently infested with bed bugs, they must disclose this fact to prospective tenants and should not offer it for rent. Upon the tenant’s request, the landlord must also disclose the last date on which the unit was inspected and found free of bed bugs.

Additional Reading: Connecticut Residential Lease Agreement

Connecticut Rent and Fee Laws

Connecticut law outlines several important rules surrounding rent payments, fees, and tenant remedies. While the state does not impose rent control, there are legal protections in place regarding how rent must be collected, the use of electronic payments, and tenant rights when essential services are not provided. Below are the main rent and fee-related provisions in Connecticut.

Rent Payments

• Due Date: Unless otherwise agreed, rent for monthly leases is payable at the beginning of each month at the dwelling unit. Landlords must provide rent receipts for all cash payments (CS § 47a-3a).
• Electronic Payments: Landlords of residential properties are prohibited from requiring electronic funds transfer as the only form of acceptable payment of rent or security deposits (CS § 47a-4c).
• Rent Increases: Rent control is banned in Connecticut (CS § 7-148b). This means there is no Connecticut state law that regulates how much landlords can increase rental prices.
• Grace Period: 9 days (CS § 47a-15a).

Fees

• Application Fees: Rental application fees are not regulated in Connecticut.
• Late Fees: There are no statutory limits on late fees in Connecticut.
• NSF/Bounced Check Fee Maximum: Connecticut has no statute regarding bad check fees.

Tenant Remedies

• Withholding Rent/Repair and Deduct: If the landlord fails to supply essential services (such as heat, running water, hot water, electricity, or gas), the tenant may give notice to the landlord specifying the breach. Then, the tenant may either use the repair and deduct remedy (procure a reasonable amount of the service and deduct the cost from rent) or find reasonable substitute housing during the noncompliance. If the noncompliance is willful, the tenant may terminate the lease and recover two months’ rent or double the actual damages, whichever is greater (CS § 47a-13).

Connecticut Security Deposit Laws

Like most states, Connecticut regulates how landlords must handle tenant security deposits. These regulations include limits on the maximum deposit amount, requirements for returning deposits after a lease ends, whether interest must be paid to tenants, and the circumstances under which funds may be withheld. Below are the security deposit laws that Connecticut landlords and tenants should be aware of..

• Deposit Limit: 2 months’ rent for tenants younger than 62 years old; 1 month’s rent if the tenant is 62 years old or older (CS § 47a-21(b)).
• Interest: Landlords in Connecticut are required to pay tenants the accrued interest on their security deposits. As of January 1, 2012, the rate of interest should not be less than the deposit index for that year, as defined in section 36a-26 (CS § 47a-21(d(1),(i))).
• Return Within: 30 days or 15 days after receiving written notification of the tenant’s forwarding address, whichever is later (CS § 47a-21(d(2))).
• Deposit Location: Landlords are required to keep security deposits in a separate escrow account established or maintained in a financial institution (CS § 47a-21(h(1))).
• Withholding: Landlords may withhold funds from the security deposit for damages, unpaid rent, and any other losses that the landlord has suffered as a result of the tenant’s failure to comply with the lease agreement obligations. Landlords must also return a written statement itemizing the nature and amount of these damages with the remainder of the deposit (CS § 47a-21(d(1-2))).

Connecticut Tenant Screening and Fair Housing Protections

What actions are considered housing discrimination?

Connecticut tenants are protected from housing discrimination under both federal and state law. The Federal Fair Housing Act (Title 24 USC § 3601-3607) prohibits discrimination in nearly every aspect of housing, including:

• Accepting or rejecting tenant applications
• Choosing screening methods and credit checks
• Advertising or marketing rental units
• Setting rental prices or offering discounts
• Providing property maintenance or repairs
• Enforcing lease terms or house rules
• Initiating eviction proceedings
• etc.

What are the protected classes in Connecticut?

Under federal law, landlords may not discriminate based on:

• Race
• Color
• Religion
• Sex
• National origin
• Familial status
• Disability

In addition to these, Connecticut’s Fair Housing Act (CGS §§ 46a-64c and 46a-81e) adds several more protected classes, including:

• Age
• Ancestry
• Marital status
• Sexual orientation
• Gender identity
• Lawful source of income
• Veteran status
• Status as a victim of domestic violence

Use of Credit Reports

Connecticut landlords are subject to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) (15 USC § 1681), which outlines the responsibilities of landlords to protect tenant credit information. According to the Act, landlords may not share tenant credit information with anyone without a legal reason to view it. They must also investigate disputed information, dispose of credit reports after use in tenant screening, and notify applicants when their credit score or history was the reason for their denial.

Use of Criminal Histories

Criminal background checks may be used during tenant screening in Connecticut. However, landlords cannot refuse to rent to individuals with criminal records altogether. Instead, landlords must assess each tenant individually, considering the nature, severity, and age of convictions (Tenant Selection: Use of Criminal Records by Landlords). Connecticut landlords should follow HUD recommendations for using criminal background checks fairly. This includes avoiding blanket policies for denying applicants with criminal convictions, assessing applicants and their criminal histories on a case-by-case basis, and only denying an applicant when they demonstrate a risk to the safety of other residents or the property.

Additional Reading: Connecticut Background Checks & Screening Online

Connecticut Landlord Entry Laws

Landlords in Connecticut are permitted to enter rental units under certain conditions, but they must respect tenants’ rights to privacy. State law outlines when and how a landlord may legally enter a tenant’s unit, whether for maintenance, inspections, or emergencies.

• Advanced Notice: Reasonable written or oral notice (CS § 47a-16(c)).
• Permitted Times: Reasonable times. Landlords may enter for inspections, maintenance, repairs, alterations, improvements, supplying services, and showings (CS § 47a-16(a)).
• Emergency Entry: In case of an emergency, the landlord may enter without advanced notice or consent (CS § 47a-16(b)).

Eviction Notices

Evictions are complex legal processes often poorly understood by both parties. Both the landlord and the tenant are responsible for complying with Connecticut rental laws regarding lease termination. As a landlord, before pursuing eviction in Connecticut, consider hiring an experienced real estate attorney and be sure to review the Connecticut eviction process in more detail.

If you pursue eviction in Connecticut, the process begins with delivering a formal, written eviction notice. Connecticut law provides different types of notices depending on the reason for eviction, such as nonpayment of rent, lease violations, or termination of tenancy.

• Rent Demand Notice: 3 days to pay or quit (CS § 47a-23). This notice applies when the tenant fails to pay rent at least three days after any grace period in the written lease expires.
• Notice for Lease Violation: 15 days to cure or quit (CS § 47a-15(a)). This notice applies when the tenant violates the lease, for any other reason besides missing rent payments.
• Notice for Repeat Violation: 3 days to quit. This notice applies when the tenant commits substantially the same violation as a previous one within six months (CS § 47a-15(a)).
• Unconditional Notice to Quit: 3 days to quit. According to Connecticut eviction laws, this notice applies when the tenant commits a “serious nuisance” on the premises, such as violence, threats of violence, severe property damage, endangering others’ safety, or using the property for prostitution or the illegal sale of drugs (CS § 47a-15(a)).

Additional Reading: Connecticut Eviction Process and Laws [2025]

Connecticut Squatter's Rights

Squatters are individuals who occupy a property without the owner’s permission. In Connecticut, removing a squatter typically requires going through the formal eviction process, as self-help measures like changing the locks or shutting off utilities are strictly prohibited.

If a squatter meets specific criteria over an extended period of time, they may claim ownership of the property through adverse possession. Under Connecticut law (CGS § 52-575), a squatter must possess the property openly, continuously, and without permission for at least 15 years to make an adverse possession claim.

Because adverse possession and eviction laws are nuanced and can be difficult to navigate, landlords dealing with squatters in Connecticut are strongly advised to consult a real estate attorney before taking action.

Additional Reading: Connecticut Squatter's Rights & Adverse Possession Laws [2025]

Other Laws and Facts About Connecticut

• The median rent rate in Connecticut is $2,000, according to Zillow.
• The median rent rate in New Haven is $1,900, according to Zillow.
• Victims of domestic violence are given special rental protections under Connecticut law. If a tenant needs to vacate the premises due to fear of imminent harm to themselves or a dependent due to family violence or sexual assault, the tenant may give 30 days’ written notice and terminate the lease without penalty (CS § 47a-11e).
• Fair rent commission in Connecticut make studies and investigations, conduct hearings, and receive complaints regarding rental charges on housing accommodations. You can read more about fair rent commission here.

Conclusion

Navigating Connecticut's tenant-friendly rental landscape may seem complex due to its robust legal framework, but landlords who familiarize themselves with state-specific laws can operate successful and compliant rental businesses. By understanding and adhering to laws regarding rent, deposits, maintenance, and tenant rights, landlords can maintain positive tenant relationships and protect their investments.

FAQs

What are the key rights of tenants in Connecticut?

Tenants in Connecticut have the right to live in a safe and habitable environment, receive privacy, and obtain prompt repairs for major issues. They can also expect protection from retaliatory eviction and the return of the security deposit within the legal timeframe.

How much can landlords charge for a security deposit?

Landlords in Connecticut can charge a maximum of 2 months’ rent for tenants under 62 years old and 1 month’s rent for those 62 or older. Security deposits must be returned within 30 days or 15 days after receiving a written notification of the tenant’s forwarding address.

What are the rules about rent increases in Connecticut?

Connecticut does not have rent control, meaning there are no state-imposed limits on rent increases. However, landlords must comply with any written notice requirements detailed in the lease agreement.

How are late fees regulated in Connecticut?

As of 2024, late fees in Connecticut are limited to $5 per day, with a cap of $50 or 5% of rent. There is also a 9-day grace period for monthly leases.

Can a landlord require electronic payments only in Connecticut?

No, landlords in Connecticut cannot require electronic payments as the sole method for rent or security deposits. Other forms of payment must be accepted.

What is a Connecticut landlord's responsibility regarding disclosures?

Landlords in Connecticut must provide important disclosures, such as lead-based paint hazards and fire sprinkler system details. They must also disclose bed bug infestations upon request.

Are background checks allowed during tenant screening in Connecticut?

Yes, landlords can conduct background checks during tenant screening in Connecticut, but they must assess each tenant individually and follow the Federal Fair Housing Act rules, ensuring no discrimination occurs.

Free Downloads

1. Connecticut Residential Lease Agreement Template
2. Connecticut Quitclaim Deed
3. Connecticut Notice to Quit (Nonpayment of Rent)
4. Connecticut Motion for Default Judgment (Eviction Cases)
5. Connecticut Month-to-Month Rental Agreement

Resources

1. Connecticut Eviction Process & Laws [2025]
2. Connecticut Official Court Webforms
3. Connecticut Court Fees and Costs
4. Connecticut Housing Market Trends & Forecast
5. Real Estate Terms & Definitions