Connecticut Residential Lease Agreement 2026

Required Landlord Disclosures (6)

Under federal and state law, landlords must provide six disclosures to tenants within a Connecticut residential lease agreement. The required disclosures are as follows:

1. Lead-based paint: Landlords across the U.S. must disclose any known lead-based paint or lead-based paint hazards if their rental property was constructed before 1978 (42 U.S.C. § 4852d).
2. Preoccupancy walk-through checklist: Connecticut landlords must offer tenants the opportunity to complete a preoccupancy walk-through after entering into the rental agreement but before occupancy begins. If the tenant requests the walk-through, both parties must use the state checklist, note existing conditions, sign duplicate copies, and keep one copy each (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-7c).
3. Bed bugs: Before renting a covered dwelling unit, Connecticut landlords cannot offer the unit for rent if they know or reasonably suspect it has a bed bug infestation. Landlords must also disclose whether the unit or any contiguous unit they own, lease, or sublease currently has bed bugs, and, upon request, must disclose the last date the unit was inspected and found free of bed bugs (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-7a(c)).
4. Sprinklers: When renting a dwelling unit in a building that must have a fire sprinkler system, Connecticut landlords must include a notice in the rental agreement stating whether the building has an operative fire sprinkler system. The notice must appear in at least 12-point boldface type, and if the building has an operative system, the lease must state the last maintenance and inspection date (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-3f).
5. Landlord’s identity: Connecticut landlords or authorized agents must notify tenants in writing, on or before the start of the tenancy, of the name and address of the person authorized to manage the property and the person authorized to receive notices, demands, and service of process (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-6).
6. Condo interest community disclosure: When a declarant, successor declarant, or person acting on their behalf rents a dwelling unit in a common interest community, they must give the tenant written notice before entering into the rental agreement (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-3e).

Security Deposit Regulations

Maximum security deposit amount: Connecticut landlords may charge up to 2 months’ rent as a security deposit for tenants under age 62 and up to 1 month’s rent for tenants age 62 or older. If a tenant turns 62 during the tenancy, the landlord must return any amount exceeding 1 month’s rent upon the tenant’s request (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21b).

Receipt of deposit: Landlords must provide tenants with a written receipt for the security deposit that includes the financial institution holding the deposit, its location, and the total deposit amount (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21).

Interest: Connecticut landlords must hold security deposits in an interest-bearing escrow account, and tenants are entitled to receive interest on the deposit (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21h, § 47a-21i).

Deduction tracking: If a landlord withholds any portion of the security deposit, the landlord must send the remaining balance, accrued interest, and a written itemized statement of damages within 21 days after termination or 15 days after receiving the tenant’s written forwarding address, whichever comes later (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21d(2)).

Returning a tenant’s security deposit: After the tenancy ends, Connecticut landlords must return the tenant’s security deposit plus accrued interest, minus lawful deductions, within 21 days after termination or 15 days after receiving the tenant’s written forwarding address, whichever comes later (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21d(2)).

Landlord’s Access to Property

Advance notice: Connecticut landlords must provide reasonable notice before entering a rental property (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-16).

Immediate access: Landlords do not need to provide advance notice in emergencies, when a court order authorizes entry, or when the rental unit has been abandoned (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-16).

Landlord harassment: If a landlord repeatedly enters a rental unit without proper notice or abuses their right of access, the conduct may constitute landlord harassment. In some situations, tenants may pursue legal remedies, including damages or court orders preventing further unlawful entry (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-16).

Rent Payment Laws

Grace period: Connecticut generally gives tenants 9 days after the rent due date before rent becomes late. For week-to-week tenancies, the grace period runs 4 days (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-15a).

Late rent fees: Connecticut landlords may charge a late fee equal to the lesser of $5 per day (up to a maximum of $50) or 5% of the overdue rent payment (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-15a(b)).

Tenant’s right to withhold rent: Connecticut tenants may pursue legal action if a landlord fails to address serious repair or habitability issues within a reasonable timeframe. In certain situations involving substantial property damage from fire or other events not caused by the tenant, tenants may also have the right to reduce rent or terminate the lease (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-13, § 47a-14).

Electronic payment restrictions: Connecticut landlords cannot require electronic funds transfer as the only payment method for rent or a security deposit in a residential lease or rental agreement. Landlords may offer online or electronic payment options, but the lease should preserve at least one non-electronic payment method (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-4c).

Cash payment receipts: Connecticut landlords must provide a written receipt for any cash payment received from or on behalf of a tenant. The receipt must state the payment date, amount received, and payment purpose (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-3a(c)).

Breach of Rental Agreement

Missed rent payment: Connecticut landlords may pursue nonpayment remedies after the applicable statutory grace period expires. The grace period generally runs 9 days after the rent due date, or 4 days for week-to-week tenancies (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-15a).

Lease violation: For many lease violations, Connecticut landlords must give written notice specifying the violation and allow the tenant 15 days to remedy it. If the tenant does not fix the issue within that period, the rental agreement may terminate under the notice. Different rules apply for serious nuisance, nonpayment of rent, and certain other violations (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-15).

Self-help evictions: Self-help evictions are illegal in Connecticut (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-43). Landlords should never attempt to remove a tenant by shutting off utilities, moving belongings, or changing the locks without following the legal eviction process.

Lease abandonment: If a tenant leaves the property before the lease term ends without legal cause, they may remain responsible for rent payments under the original lease agreement. However, Connecticut landlords still have a legal duty to make a reasonable effort to find a new tenant to mitigate damages (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-11c).

Cannabis lease restrictions: Connecticut landlords cannot prohibit tenants from possessing or consuming cannabis in a dwelling unit. However, landlords may prohibit cannabis smoking, electronic cannabis device use, or cannabis vapor product use, and certain exceptions apply for roomers, sober living or transitional housing, certain service-related residences, and situations involving federal law or federal benefits (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-9a).

Prohibited lease clauses: Connecticut rental agreements cannot require tenants to waive legal rights or remedies, confess judgment, release the landlord from legal liability, waive security deposit interest, allow dispossession without a court order, allow distraint of tenant property for rent, pay excessive attorney fees, pay late charges before the statutory grace period expires, pay excessive late charges, or pay a heat or utility surcharge when the lease includes heat or utilities (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-4).

Ending a Lease

Month-to-month: Connecticut landlords and tenants generally must provide notice before terminating a month-to-month rental lease agreement. Depending on the circumstances, the required notice period may range from 3 days to 30 days (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-23).

Fixed-term: Connecticut tenants may legally terminate a fixed-term lease early in certain situations, including domestic violence protections, qualifying military service obligations, or serious landlord misconduct that affects habitability or lawful occupancy (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-11e).

Property abandonment: If a tenant leaves personal property behind after vacating the rental unit, the landlord must store the belongings for at least 30 days before disposing of them (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-11b(d)).

Renewing a Lease

Rent increase notice requirements: Connecticut requires landlords to provide at least 45 days’ written notice before increasing rent for most residential leases longer than one month. The change applies to lease renewals and month-to-month rental agreements (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-4e).

Required renewals: As of 2026, Connecticut landlords generally are not required to renew standard lease agreements. However, expanded “good cause” eviction protections now apply to more tenants living in buildings with 5 or more units, meaning landlords in covered properties may not refuse to renew certain standard leases without a legally valid reason (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-23c).

Required notice: We recommend that Connecticut landlords provide tenants with at least 30 days’ notice before choosing not to renew a lease. In some situations, Connecticut landlords may use a 3-day Notice to Quit Possession to formally terminate a tenancy under state eviction procedures (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-23).