The Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 830 Section 47a-20 and 20a prohibits a landlord from retaliating against a tenant for the following reasons with some exceptions:
Landlord Prohibited Retaliatory Actions
A landlord shall not maintain an action or proceeding against a tenant to recover possession of a dwelling unit, demand an increase in rent from the tenant, or decrease the services to which the tenant has been entitled within six months after:
- (1) The tenant has in good faith attempted to remedy by any lawful means, including contacting officials of the state or of any town, city or borough or public agency or filing a complaint with a fair rent commission, any condition constituting a violation of any provisions of chapter 368o, or of chapter 412, or of any other state statute or regulation, or of the housing and health ordinances of the municipality wherein the premises which are the subject of the complaint lie;
- (2) any municipal agency or official has filed a notice, complaint or order regarding such a violation;
- (3) the tenant has in good faith requested the landlord to make repairs;
- (4) the tenant has in good faith instituted an action under subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of section 47a-14h; or
- (5) the tenant has organized or become a member of a tenants’ union.
Conn. Gen. Stat. Title 47a Ch 830 Sec 47a-20.
Landlord Actions Deemed not Retaliatory
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 47a-20, the landlord may maintain an action to recover possession of the dwelling unit if:
- (1) The tenant is using the dwelling unit for an illegal purpose or for a purpose which is in violation of the rental agreement or for nonpayment of rent;
- (2) the landlord seeks in good faith to recover possession of the dwelling unit for immediate use as his own abode;
- (3) the condition complained of was caused by the wilful actions of the tenant or another person in his household or a person on the premises with his consent; or
- (4) the landlord seeks to recover possession on the basis of a notice to terminate a periodic tenancy, which notice was given to the tenant before the tenant’s complaint.
Increasing Rent
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 47a-20, a landlord may increase the rent of a tenant if:
- (1) The condition complained of was caused by the lack of due care by the tenant or another person of his household or a person on the premises with his consent or
- (2) the landlord has become liable for a substantial increase in property taxes, or a substantial increase in other maintenance or operating costs not associated with his complying with the complaint, not less than four months before the demand for an increase in rent, and the increase in rent does not exceed the prorated portion of the net increase in taxes or costs.
(c) Nothing in this section or section 47a-20 shall be construed to in any way limit the defense provided in section 47a-33.
Conn. Gen. Stat. Title 47a Ch 830 Sec 47a-20a.
See also Connecticut Tenant May Present a Defense Against Eviction.
Return to Connecticut Landlord-Tenant Laws.