Connecticut Landlord-Tenant Law
Know your rights as a renter in Connecticut. This guide covers security deposits, landlord entry, rent increases, eviction protections, and more under Connecticut law.
Legal basis: Connecticut landlord-tenant law — Connecticut General Statutes
21
Days to Return Deposit
2 months' rent
Max Deposit
Reasonable
Entry Notice
Required
Deposit Escrow
Max Deposit shows the short version — read the full rule below.
What Connecticut law says about deposits
Maximum Deposit
2 months' rent (1 month for tenants 62+)
Return Deadline
21 daysor 15 days after the tenant gives a written forwarding address, whichever is later
Penalties, interest & late-fee rules under Connecticut law
If your deposit is wrongfully or late returned
Landlord may owe double the deposit amount if not returned within deadline.
Interest on your deposit is required
Interest on every deposit at no less than the deposit index the Banking Commissioner sets each year, paid or credited toward rent on each anniversary of the tenancy; if the tenancy ends before an anniversary, accrued interest is due within 21 days (C.G.S. § 47a-21(i)).
Grace period
No late fee unless rent is still unpaid 9 days after the due date (4 days for week-to-week rentals). Each period is extended by 5 more days for any week or month in which the landlord's online rent-payment system prevents paying rent when due.
Must be in the lease
Yes — a late fee is only enforceable if it is written into your lease
Your privacy protections
Required Notice Period
Reasonable notice
written or oral, no set hours (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-16(c))
In Connecticut, your landlord must give this notice before entering your rental unit, except in genuine emergencies. This protects your right to privacy and peaceful enjoyment of your home.
Exceptions: Landlords may enter without notice in cases of emergency (fire, flooding, etc.) or if you've abandoned the property.
45 days notice (one month if month-to-month)
Legal basis: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-4e
15 days (48 hours for heat/water)
Legal basis: Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-7, 47a-12, 47a-13, 47a-14h
6 months protected
Legal basis: CT Gen Stat § 47a-20
30 days' written notice
Legal basis: CT Gen Stat § 47a-11e
Self-help illegal
Legal basis: CT Gen Stat § 47a-46
Important facts about Connecticut rental law
Connecticut limits security deposits to 2 months' rent (1 month for tenants 62+).
Connecticut landlords must return deposits within 21 days after the tenancy ends, or 15 days after getting the tenant's forwarding address, whichever is later.
Connecticut landlords must pay interest on every security deposit, each year on the anniversary of the tenancy.
Connecticut requires landlords to provide smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Something else? Contact our team
In Connecticut, the security deposit limit is 2 months' rent (1 month for tenants 62+).
Connecticut landlords must return security deposits within 21 days after you move out (or 15 days after the tenant gives a written forwarding address, whichever is later).
In Connecticut, landlords must give reasonable notice before entering your rental unit (written or oral, no set hours (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-16(c))).
Late fees in Connecticut: Lesser of $5/day (up to $50) or 5% of the delinquent rent (the tenant's share if rent is subsidized); one late fee per late payment. State law provides a 9-day grace period before a late fee can apply.
45 days notice (one month if month-to-month). Written notice at least 45 days before an increase; one full rental period for a month-to-month lease (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-4e). No increase during your lease term (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-4e). Towns of 25,000 or more must have a fair rent commission that hears complaints about excessive increases (Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 7-148b, 7-148c). Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-4e.
15 days (48 hours for heat/water). Landlord must make all repairs needed to keep the home fit and habitable (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-7). Written notice: if a health or safety problem isn't fixed in 15 days, the lease ends; applies to leases longer than one month (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-12). No heat, water, hot water, electricity or gas: after notice, buy the service and deduct it; if not restored in 48 hours, find substitute housing and stop rent (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-13). No general repair-and-deduct; after a code complaint and 21 days, you can sue in housing court and pay rent to the court (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-14h). Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-7, 47a-12, 47a-13, 47a-14h.
6 months protected. Retaliation prohibited. 6 month protection period. Cannot evict for complaints. Source: CT Gen Stat § 47a-20.
30 days' written notice. A victim of family violence, or of sexual assault, who reasonably believes leaving is necessary may end the lease with written notice 30 days before the end date. Include a sworn statement plus a police or court record from the past 90 days, or a statement from the Office of Victim Services or Victim Advocate from the past 30 days. No liability for the rest of the term, but back rent and damage you caused are still owed. Applies to leases made or renewed from January 1, 2011 (family violence) and January 1, 2014 (sexual assault). Source: CT Gen Stat § 47a-11e.
Self-help illegal. Self-help evictions illegal. Court process required. Utility shutoffs prohibited. Source: CT Gen Stat § 47a-46.
Connecticut tenants have rights including security deposit protections, notice requirements for landlord entry, habitability standards, and protections against retaliation. Use Honestkey to analyze your specific lease against Connecticut law.
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