Last Updated: January 3, 2024 by Jessica Menefee
Does Connecticut Have Rent Control Laws?
Connecticut does not have statewide rent control laws limiting the amount that landlords may ask for rent. State law prohibits local governments from establishing rent control laws except to establish a fair rent commission that handles complaints and prevents landlords from charging excessive rents.
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When Can a Landlord Raise Rent in Connecticut?
Landlords in Connecticut can raise the rent at any time, as long as they comply with the following:
- Wait until the end of the lease term (unless otherwise specified in the lease)
- Give reasonable notice
- Aren’t raising rent for discriminatory or retaliatory reasons
When Can’t a Landlord Raise Rent in Connecticut?
Landlords in Connecticut may not raise the rent if:
- The increase is applied in a way that discriminates against one of the protected classes specified in the Fair Housing Act
- It is during the middle of a lease’s fixed term (unless stated otherwise in the lease agreement)
- It is done in response to a protected tenant action, such as filing a complaint. This is known as “retaliation” [2].
How Often Can Rent Be Increased in Connecticut?
Landlords in Connecticut can increase the rent as often as they wish, as long as sufficient notice is provided each time.
How Much Notice is Needed to Raise Rent in Connecticut?
Connecticut law does not require a specific notice period before raising the rent.
However, it still requires that landlords act in good faith, meaning they should give the tenant reasonable notice when increasing rent. In many states, one month is considered reasonable.
How Much Can a Landlord Raise Rent in Connecticut?
In areas with a fair rent commission, landlords in Connecticut cannot raise the rent by an amount that would be considered “harsh and unconscionable” [4].
If a tenant thinks a rent increase is unreasonable, they must submit a complaint to their local Fair Housing Commission to contest it.
Fair rent commissions are required to consider these factors [5]:
- Amount and frequency of rent increases
- Landlord’s operating costs
- Number and size of bedrooms
- Repairs necessary to make the accommodations livable
- Number of bathtubs, showers, toilets, and sinks
- Services, furniture, and furnishings
- Availability of utilities
- Comparable rents
- Sanitary conditions
- Compliance with state and local health and safety laws and regulations
- Renter’s income and housing availability
- Tenant damage to the premises, other than ordinary wear and tear
- Potential reinvestment in the property
After a tenant files a complaint, the commission will hold a hearing and may:
- Order a reduction of the rent increase
- Order the rent increase to be phased over time
- Deny the rent increase
- Require the rent increase to be delayed until the landlord complies with health and safety requirements or makes necessary repairs
- Deny the tenant’s claim
Tenants can file a case with Superior Court to contest a rent increase if their local government does not have a fair rent commission [6] and they live in a mobile home or a building or complex with 5 or more dwellings and are disabled or 62 years old or older [7].
In boroughs and towns without a fair rent commission, landlords can raise the rent by any amount they wish. There is no legal limit or cap on the amount of a rent increase in those areas.