What Landlords Need to Know About the Law in Connecticut

Connecticut, like any other state, has its own laws regarding rental property investing and tenant management. Below are some of the most important things to know when renting to tenants in the state of Connecticut.

Rent and Fees

Landlords should know the main laws regarding rent collection and fee charges in their state.

In Connecticut, rent is due at the beginning of each month unless there is another date listed in the rental agreement. Also, if the tenant pays rent in cash, there must be a receipt provided to that tenant. It’s also important to note that landlords in this state cannot require their tenants to use electronic funds transfer as the only accepted form of rent payment or security deposit payment. You must accept at least one non-electronic method, such as cash or check.

Additionally, the legal grace period is nine days, which means that tenants cannot be charged late fees until nine days after the rent due date (although there is no standard late fee charge mandated by law). There is also no statute dictating what landlords can charge when given a bounced check. 

Lastly, Connecticut’s repair and deduct remedy law states that if the landlord refuses to supply essential services, the tenant can give a written notice to their landlord stating the issue. They may then deduct the reasonable cost of that service from rent or find reasonable alternative housing until the landlord remedies the problem. If the landlord is willfully not remedying the issue, the tenant can terminate the lease and either double the actual damages, or recover two months’ rent, whichever amount is greater. 

Evictions

Connecticut eviction laws set out three possible eviction notices. Landlords must provide the right notice before filing for eviction. 

If the tenant has yet to pay their rent or has outstanding dues, the landlord must serve a three-day rent demand notice giving the tenant three days to pay the amount or vacate the property. 

In the case of a lease violation, the landlord must give the offending tenant a lease violation notice and allow 15 days for them to fix their violation or to leave the unit. 

Lastly, an unconditional notice to quit should be filed when the tenant poses a threat to other people or to the property. In this case, they have 15 days to leave the property before eviction proceedings begin. However, if the tenant is convicted of using the unit for illegal purposes like prostitution or drug manufacture/distribution, no notice is required.

Tenant Screening

Across all 50 states, federal law prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, national origin, familial status, and disability. Connecticut landlord tenant laws protect tenants from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, military/veteran status, marital status, and lawful source of income as protected classes as well. 

Security Deposits

Connecticut security deposit laws dictate how landlords should collect and keep their tenant’s security deposits. 

If the tenant is younger than 62, landlords can charge up to two months’ rent for the deposit. If the tenant is older than 62, then the amount is capped at one month’s rent. Also, landlords must pay tenants the accrued interest on their deposits, and they must keep the deposits in a separate escrow account that is maintained by a financial institution.

Additionally, landlords must return the deposit within either 30 or 15 days, depending on when the tenant notifies their landlord of their new forwarding address. 

You may withhold funds for losses that you sustain due to the tenant not following lease agreement obligations. This could include damages or unpaid rent and fees. However, if you do make deductions from the security deposit, you must give the tenant a written statement itemizing what the withholding was for and how much that damage cost. 

Required Disclosures

When renting to new tenants, they must be notified of where their security deposit is being held as well as how much the amount is for. This notice must be given to the tenant within 30 days of receiving their funds. 

If the unit is located within a common interest community like a neighborhood of condominiums or a retirement community, tenants must be informed before agreeing to the rental agreement. 

Landlords must also provide a fire sprinkler system notice if the unit is within a building that must be equipped with such a system. This notice must be in a font that is 12-pt or larger. 

Finally, if the landlord knows of a bed bug infestation in the rented unit, they must not offer it for rent and notify any interested renters. If the tenant asks, the landlord is legally required to disclose the date of the last inspection in which there were no bed bugs.

Conclusion

Being a landlord in any state comes with its own set of rules and regulations to follow. If you’re ever confused, reach out to a fellow landlord in your area, or consult an attorney. Following these laws is the best way to ensure fair treatment for all your tenants, so make sure you study them closely and ask any questions you may have to a trusted professional.