Source: https://ipropertymanagement.com/laws/breaking-a-lease-in-connecticut
Timestamp: 2019-12-14 13:56:55
Document Index: 709428646

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 47', '§ 47', '§ 47', '§ 47', '§ 47', '§ 47', '§ 47', '§ 47', '§ 47', '§ 47']

Breaking a Lease in Connecticut [2019]: ALL Legal Reasons
Find out when a tenant can legally break a lease in Connecticut when they can’t, what options they have if they don’t have a proper cause, and what the consequences are of walking out on a lease agreement. Learn how landlords can break a lease, when they can break one without cause, and how much notice they have to give.
Lease Termination Notice Requirements in Connecticut
In Connecticut, the tenant is required to provide a 3-day written notice for all lease lengths including fixed end date, month-to-month, and week-to-week leases (§§ 47a-23).
Conditions for Legally Breaking a Lease in Connecticut
There are a handful of scenarios where a tenant can legally break a lease in Connecticut without penalty. We’ll go through each of them below.
In Connecticut, the term “servicemember” means a member of the armed forces, commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), commissioned corps of the Public Health Service, and the activated National Guard.
Every state has specific health and safety codes that provide minimum standards for rental units, and Connecticut is no different.
If those standards are not met, proper notice is given by the tenant and the repairs/fixes are still not made within the allowable time period, a tenant would be considered “constructively evicted”. As a result, the obligations of the tenant under the lease are no longer required, given that the landlord has not met their own responsibilities under the Connecticut landlord-tenant law. According to Connecticut state law §§ 47a-7(a), landlord duties to provide habitable premises include the following:
Compliance. Comply with the requirements of applicable building and housing codes affecting health and safety
Repairs. Make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition, unless the unfit condition was intentionally caused by the tenant
Trash. Provide and maintain appropriate receptacles for the removal of trash and other waste related to occupancy, and arrange for the removal
Water and Heat. Provide running water and reasonable amounts of hot water at all times and reasonable heat
Landlord entry.Connecticut state law states that your landlord should provide reasonable written or oral notice required, and entry allowed only at reasonable times (§§ 47a-16(c)). If your landlord repeatedly violates your rights to privacy or does removes windows or doors, turns off your utilities, or changes the locks, you would be considered “constructively evicted,” as described above.
Changing the locks. In Connecticut, the only legal way a landlord can remove a tenant is through a court eviction process, called “Summary Process.” A landlord cannot lockout their tenant.
In some scenarios, a lease agreement may be deemed illegal in the state of Connecticut, and as a result, are generally not enforceable.
Over 1-year lease without a description of the property. For a written lease agreement with a fixed period of greater than 1 year to be valid in Connecticut, it needs to have a clear description of the leased property.
Illegal units. The definition of what constitutes an illegal rental unit can vary by location and isn’t always entirely clear. On the state level, Connecticut does not appear to have clear information on what defines a legal rental unit.
Many states protect tenants who are victims of domestic violence. If you are confronting a domestic violence situation (this can also be stalking), and want to move, check with local law enforcement regarding special state laws that may apply in domestic violence situations. Some statutes the state of Connecticut provides for victims of domestic violence include:
Early Termination Rights. If a tenant reasonably believes it is necessary to vacate the premises due to fear of imminent harm to the tenant or a dependent of the tenant because of family violence or sexual assault, the tenant may terminate the lease without penalty with written notice of at least 30 days.
Proof of Status. The notice required for early termination must include a statement affirming that the tenant or a dependent of the tenant is a victim of family violence or sexual assault, as well as either a copy of a police report or court record detailing an act of family violence or sexual assault (§§ 47a-11e).
8. Mandatory Disclosures in Connecticut
Some disclosure laws impose heavy fines or legal ramifications to landlords if they are not followed. Others contain penalty provisions and may allow you to break your lease. If your landlord fails to provide you with a mandatory state or local disclosure speak with a Connecticut landlord-tenant attorney to determine what can be done.
Connecticut requires that landlords provide the following disclosures to tenants, normally in writing and at the start of the lease:
Tenant’s Right to Disclosure of Agent. The name and address of the landlord or property manager must be provided to the tenant in writing prior to the start of the lease. (§§ 47a-6)
Common Interest Community. If the rental is located in a common interest community, the landlord must disclose it to the tenant in writing (Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 47a-3e).
Summary of Landlord-Tenant Code. A summary of the code must be given to tenants at the beginning of the rental term. Failure to do so enables the tenant to plead ignorance of the law as a defense (Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 47a-6).
If you, a dependent living with you, or your co-tenant, face a serious physical or mental health issue you may qualify for early lease termination without obligation to pay the entire balance of rent due. Some states offer permitted, health-related lease-breaking arrangements that are age-restricted. Most states require a note from a locally licensed physician and at least 30 days’ notice. Since not all states allow this statute, be sure to check the Connecticut Landlord and Tenant Handbook for further information.
Note About Illegal Retaliation in Connecticut
In July of 2019, House Bill 346
In Connecticut, landlord retaliation is judged under sections §§ 47a-20 and §§ 47a-33.
Connecticut law (Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 47a-11a), states that your landlord must make reasonable efforts to re-rent your unit rather than charge you for the total remaining rent due under the lease. You need to pay only the amount of rent the landlord loses because you moved out early.
Other Resources for Connecticut Landlords & Tenants