Connecticut Month-to-Month Lease Agreement

Required Landlord Disclosures (5)

1. Lead-based paint: If a rental property was constructed before 1978, the landlord must tell the tenant about any known lead-based paint or related hazards.

2. Bed bugs: If a bed bug infestation occurs within a rental unit, the landlord must notify the tenant (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-7a(c)).

3. Sprinkler systems: The lease must clearly state whether the rental unit has a sprinkler system and include the date of its most recent inspection (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-3f).

4. Landlord’s identity: The landlord must include their name and contact details within the lease agreement. If tenants need to send legal documents, the lease must also list a valid mailing address (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-6).

5. Common interest community: If the rental property is part of a common interest community, the landlord must inform the tenant in writing before the lease begins (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-3e).

Required Notice to Terminate Month-to-Month Agreement

Landlords must give tenants at least 3 days’ written notice to end a month-to-month rental agreement (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-23(a)).

Connecticut law does not specify a notice period for tenants who want to terminate a month-to-month agreement.

Rent Increase Laws

Connecticut law does not include any rent control or rent stabilization provisions. However, in some cities with at least 25,000 residents, local Fair Rent Commissions may enforce regulations that block landlords from increasing rent by an “excessive” amount (Conn. Gen Stat. § 7-148b).

As of October 1, 2024, landlords must provide month-to-month tenants with at least 45 days of written notice before implementing a rent increase (Public Act No. 24-5).

Rent Payment Laws

Grace period: Connecticut law gives tenants a 9-day grace period after the rent is due before the payment counts as late (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-15a).

Late rent fees: Connecticut landlords can charge tenant late rent fees of either $5 per day (capped at $50 total) or 5% of the total rent due, whichever is greater (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-15a(b)).

Tenant’s right to withhold rent: Tenants may withhold rent if the landlord fails to fix serious repair issues that affect habitability within a reasonable timeframe. They can also stop paying rent if fire (or a similar event) causes significant damage to the unit, as long as they didn’t cause the damage themselves (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-13, § 47a-14).

Pet rent: Connecticut law does not prohibit landlords from charging monthly pet rent. Landlords may include a separate pet fee within the lease but must clearly state the amount and payment terms.

Security Deposit Rules

Maximum security deposit amount: Connecticut landlords can charge up to 2 months’ rent as a security deposit for tenants under 62. If the tenant is 62 or older, the maximum drops to 1 month’s rent. If a tenant turns 62 while renting, the landlord must refund any portion of the deposit that exceeds the 1-month limit (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(b)).

Receipt of deposit: Landlords must give tenants a written receipt that includes the name and address of the financial institution holding the security deposit and the total amount (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21).

Interest: Landlords must place the deposit in an escrow account that earns interest and pay the tenant any interest earned on the deposit (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(h), § 47a-21(i)).

Deduction tracking: After the tenant moves out, landlords have 15 days to provide an itemized list of deductions if they have the tenant’s forwarding address. If they do not, they must provide the list within 21 days (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2)).

Returning a tenant’s security deposit: Once the landlord receives the tenant’s forwarding address, they must return the security deposit within 15 days. If they do not receive a forwarding address, they have 21 days to return it (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2)).

Pet deposit: Connecticut landlords may include a pet deposit as part of the security deposit. The full amount cannot exceed legal limits: 2 months’ rent for tenants under 62, and 1 month for those 62 or older.

Property Access Regulations

Advance notice: Landlords in Connecticut must give tenants reasonable notice before entering the rental unit (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-16).

Immediate access: Landlords may enter without notice in emergencies, when a court permits it, or if the tenant appears to have abandoned the rental unit (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-16).

Landlord harassment: If a landlord enters a rental unit excessively or without proper notice, the tenant may consider it landlord harassment. In some cases, the tenant can use it as grounds to end the lease early (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-16).

Rental Agreement Violations

Missed rent payment: If a tenant fails to pay rent after the grace period, the landlord can charge a late fee or issue a 3-Day Notice to Pay or Quit (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-15a).

Lease violation: When a tenant breaks a lease term, the landlord can serve a 15-Day Notice to Cure. If the tenant fails to cure the issue within 15 days, the landlord may issue them a 3-Day Notice to Quit (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-23a).

Self-help evictions: Connecticut law prohibits self-help evictions, meaning landlords must follow the legal eviction process and cannot take matters into their own hands (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-43).

Lease abandonment: If a tenant leaves the rental property before their lease ends, they may still owe the landlord rent for the remainder of the lease. The landlord must make a good-faith effort to re-rent the unit and minimize the tenant’s financial losses (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-11c).