Connecticut Eviction Process
The process for evicting a tenant in Connecticut is referred to as a summary process case. The information on this page applies to residential rental property. Commercial or agricultural real estate (as well as residential foreclosure proceedings) may have separate proceedings.
1. Complete the proper notice. Depending on the circumstances, there are two types of notices a landlord can use to begin the eviction process. The following are a list of the types of notices:
- Connecticut 3 Day Notice to Cure or Quit (For failure to pay rent or other lease violations)
- Connecticut 30 Day Notice to Terminate Lease (For tenancy-at-will or month-to-month agreements)
2. Serve the tenant and wait. A landlord must hire a process server to deliver the notice to the tenant and wait 3 days for the tenant to pay the rent, correct the violation, or move.
3. Summary process is filed. If the tenant fails to act, the Landlord may file an action in the Housing Session of the Connecticut Superior Court in the county in which the property is located. The following documents are usually required:
- Summons
- Complaint for lapse of time or a Complaint for Non-Payment of Rent
- Copy of Connecticut 3 Day Notice to Cure or Quit and Return of Service
The clerk will assign a return date.
4. Serve the tenant with notice of the lawsuit. The landlord must again hire a process server to physically serve the tenant, but this time with a copy of the summons and complaint and return copies of all those documents served to the court four days before the return date.
5. Wait for the tenant to answer. The tenant must respond no later than two days after the return date to dispute the landlord’s claims, Answer to Complaint. Otherwise, the landlord may file a motion for default judgment, Motion for Default Judgment for Failure to Plead.
Notice to Quit
A 3 Day Notice to Cure or Quit requires a tenant to pay rent or cure other lease violations within 3 days or the landlord may file an eviction lawsuit.
