At a Glance
| Question | Answer | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Security deposit limit? | 2 months' rent | 1 month if tenant is 62 years or older |
| Rent control? | No statewide | Some municipalities may have local measures |
| Required notice to raise rent? | No specific statute | Lease terms govern; reasonable notice expected |
| Lease required in writing? | Yes, for leases > 1 year | Month-to-month can be oral |
| Landlord entry notice? | Reasonable notice | No specific statutory timeframe |
Security Deposits
Connecticut law limits security deposits and imposes requirements for their handling and return.
Landlords may collect a security deposit of up to 2 months' rent. For tenants who are 62 years of age or older, the maximum is limited to 1 month's rent.
Landlords must place security deposits in an escrow account at a Connecticut financial institution and pay annual interest to tenants. The deposit must be returned within 30 days of the tenant vacating, or within 15 days if the tenant provides proper notice of intent to vacate. The landlord must provide an itemized statement of any deductions.
cite: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21
Eviction Procedures
Connecticut requires landlords to follow specific legal procedures to evict a tenant. Self-help evictions (changing locks, shutting off utilities, removing belongings) are illegal.
Notice Requirements
- 3-Day Notice: For nonpayment of rent (lapse of time)
- 15-Day Notice: For material lease violations or noncompliance
- 3-Day Notice: For serious nuisance or illegal activity
- No-Cause Termination: Month-to-month tenancies require 3 days' notice (lapse of time)
Connecticut uses a "summary process" for evictions. After the notice period expires, the landlord must file a complaint in court and obtain a judgment before the tenant can be removed.
cite: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-23
Rent Control
Connecticut does not have a statewide rent control law. Some municipalities have historically enacted local rent stabilization measures, but there is no blanket restriction on rent increases across the state. Landlords may raise rent by any amount, subject to the terms of the lease agreement and proper notice.
Landlords may not raise rent in a retaliatory manner against tenants who have exercised their legal rights.
cite: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-20
Lease Agreements
Connecticut does not require a written lease for tenancies of one year or less. However, any lease for longer than one year must be in writing under the Statute of Frauds. Written leases are recommended regardless of duration.
Required Disclosures
Connecticut landlords must provide the following disclosures:
- Lead-based paint (pre-1978 properties)
- Common interest community: Whether the property is part of a common interest community
- Fire sprinkler notification: Information on fire sprinkler systems if applicable
- Security deposit: The name and address of the financial institution holding the deposit
- Bedbug history: Whether the unit has had a bedbug infestation within the prior 120 days
cite: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-1 et seq.
Tenant Rights
Connecticut provides broad protections for tenants:
- Habitability: Landlords must maintain rental units in habitable condition, including working plumbing, heating, electricity, and structural integrity under the implied warranty of habitability
- Retaliation protection: Landlords cannot retaliate against tenants who report code violations, join tenant organizations, or exercise their legal rights
- Discrimination protection: Fair housing laws prohibit discrimination based on race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, familial status, marital status, age, ancestry, and other protected categories
- Right to privacy: Landlords must provide reasonable notice before entering a tenant's unit; no specific statutory timeframe is set, but notice must be reasonable
- Repair and deduct: Tenants may make essential repairs and deduct the cost from rent if the landlord fails to address habitability issues after reasonable written notice