Fair Rent Commissions: Connecticut

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The following is summarized from the CTLawHelp.org websites:
https://ctlawhelp.org/en/tenants-rights-security-deposits
https://ctlawhelp.org/en/tenants-renters-rights-laws

WHAT ARE FAIR RENT COMMISSIONS?

Under Connecticut law (CGS § 7-148b) any municipality has the authority to establish a fair rent commission for the city/town, by an act of the city/town legislative body. A fair rent commission has the authority to receive and investigate rent complaints, issue subpoenas, hold hearings, and order landlords to reduce rents for specific reasons. When a commission finds that rental housing does not meet the local or state health or safety requirements for housing, the commission may suspend rent payments until the housing is brought into compliance. Also, a commission may order a landlord to stop any retaliation against a tenant who makes a complaint to the commission. A fair rent commission has this authority only within the boundaries of the city/town that established it.

DETERMINING EXCESSIVE RENT

Fair Rent Commissions must consider a number of factors when determining whether a rental charge is excessive to the point of being “harsh and unconscionable.” The factors include:

WHAT CAN A COMMISSION DO?

TO FIND PROVIDERS IN CONNECTICUT’S COMMUNITY RESOURCES DATABASE:

Search by program name: Fair Rent Commission

(NOTE: Not all cities/towns have established a Fair Rent Commission)

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SOURCE: CTLawHelp.org
PREPARED BY: 211/ch
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: March2023