Connecticut 2025 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB06943 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

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3		-	LCO 1 of 3
	3	+	LCO No. 4589 1 of 5
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5		-	General Assembly ~~Substitute~~ Bill No. 6943
	5	+	General Assembly Raised Bill No. 6943
6	6		January Session, 2025
	7	+	LCO No. 4589
	8	+
	9	+
	10	+	Referred to Committee on HOUSING
	11	+
	12	+
	13	+	Introduced by:
	14	+	(HSG)
	15	+
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8	17
9	18
10	19		AN ACT CONCERNING PROTECTIONS FOR RESIDENTIAL
11	20		TENANTS.
12	21		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
13	22		Assembly convened:
14	23
15	24		Section 1. Section 47a-3a of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
16	25		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 2
17	26		(a) Rent is payable without demand or notice at the time and place 3
18	27		agreed upon by the parties. 4
19	28		(b) Unless otherwise agreed: (1) Rent is payable at the dwelling unit; 5
20	29		(2) periodic rent is payable at the beginning of any term of one month 6
21	30		or less and for terms of more than one month in equal monthly 7
22	31		installments at the beginning of each month. 8
23	32		(c) Upon receipt of a payment in cash from or on behalf of an 9
24	33		occupant, a landlord shall provide the person making the payment with 10
25	34		a receipt stating the date of the payment, the amount received and the 11
26	35		purpose for which the payment was made. 12
27	36		(d) Upon request by an occupant, the landlord shall provide such 13
	37	+	Raised Bill No. 6943
	38	+
	39	+
	40	+
	41	+	LCO No. 4589 2 of 5
	42	+
28	43		occupant with a copy of the ledger or equivalent accounting for the 14
29	44		occupant's dwelling unit, showing charges assessed, payments made 15
30	45		and any balance owed or surplus paid by such occupant. 16
31		-	Sec. 2. Subsection (a) of section 47a-4 of the general statutes is 17
32		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 18 Substitute Bill No. 6943
	46	+	Sec. 2. Section 47a-15a of the general statutes is repealed and the 17
	47	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 18
	48	+	(a) If rent is unpaid when due and the tenant fails to pay rent within 19
	49	+	nine days thereafter or, in the case of a one-week tenancy, within four 20
	50	+	days thereafter, the landlord may terminate the rental agreement in 21
	51	+	accordance with the provisions of sections 47a-23 to 47a-23b, inclusive. 22
	52	+	For purposes of this section, "grace period" means the nine-day or four-23
	53	+	day time periods identified in this subsection, as applicable. 24
	54	+	(b) If a rental agreement contains a valid written agreement to pay a 25
	55	+	late charge in accordance with subsection (a) of section 47a-4, as 26
	56	+	amended by this act, a landlord may assess a tenant such a late charge 27
	57	+	on a rent payment made subsequent to the grace period in accordance 28
	58	+	with this section. Such late charge may not exceed the lesser of (1) five 29
	59	+	dollars per day, up to a maximum of fifty dollars, or (2) five per cent of 30
	60	+	the delinquent rent payment or, in the case of a rental agreement paid 31
	61	+	in whole or in part by a governmental or charitable entity, five per cent 32
	62	+	of the tenant's share of the delinquent rent payment. The landlord may 33
	63	+	not assess more than one late charge upon a delinquent rent payment, 34
	64	+	regardless of how long the rent remains unpaid. 35
	65	+	(c) Any rent payment received by the landlord shall be applied to the 36
	66	+	rent for the current rental period before it is applied to any arrearage or 37
	67	+	charges other than rent. 38
	68	+	Sec. 3. Subsection (a) of section 47a-4 of the general statutes is 39
	69	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 40
	70	+	2025): 41
	71	+	(a) A rental agreement shall not provide that the tenant: (1) Agrees to 42
	72	+	waive or forfeit rights or remedies under this chapter and sections 47a-43
	73	+	Raised Bill No. 6943
33	74
34	75
35		-	LCO 2 of 3
36	76
37		-	2025): 19
38		-	(a) A rental agreement shall not provide that the tenant: (1) Agrees to 20
39		-	waive or forfeit rights or remedies under this chapter and sections 47a-21
40		-	21, 47a-23 to 47a-23b, inclusive, 47a-26 to 47a-26g, inclusive, 47a-35 to 22
41		-	47a-35b, inclusive, 47a-41a, 47a-43 and 47a-46, or under any section of 23
42		-	the general statutes or any municipal ordinance unless such section or 24
43		-	ordinance expressly states that such rights may be waived; (2) 25
44		-	authorizes the landlord to confess judgment on a claim arising out of the 26
45		-	rental agreement; (3) agrees to the exculpation or limitation of any 27
46		-	liability of the landlord arising under law or to indemnify the landlord 28
47		-	for that liability or the costs connected therewith; (4) agrees to waive his 29
48		-	right to the interest on the security deposit pursuant to section 47a-21; 30
49		-	(5) agrees to permit the landlord to dispossess him without resort to 31
50		-	court order; (6) consents to the distraint of his property for rent; (7) 32
51		-	agrees to pay the landlord's attorney's fees in excess of fifteen per cent 33
52		-	of any judgment against the tenant in any action in which money 34
53		-	damages are awarded; (8) agrees to pay a late charge prior to the 35
54		-	expiration of the grace period set forth in section 47a-15a, or to pay rent 36
55		-	in a reduced amount if such rent is paid prior to the expiration of such 37
56		-	grace period; (9) agrees to pay a late charge on rent payments made 38
57		-	subsequent to such grace period in an amount exceeding the amounts 39
58		-	set forth in section 47a-15a; [or] (10) agrees to pay a heat or utilities 40
59		-	surcharge if heat or utilities is included in the rental agreement; or (11) 41
60		-	agrees to pay a surcharge or increased rent for occupying a dwelling 42
61		-	unit under a month-to-month tenancy or holding over beyond the term 43
62		-	of the lease. 44
63		-	Sec. 3. Section 47a-4e of the general statutes is repealed and the 45
64		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 46
65		-	No rent increase for a dwelling unit shall be effective unless the 47
66		-	landlord has given the tenant of such dwelling unit written notice of the 48
67		-	proposed increase not less than forty-five days before the day on which 49
68		-	the increase is proposed to take effect, except in the case of a lease with 50
69		-	a term of one month or less, such notice shall be given a number of days 51 Substitute Bill No. 6943
	77	+	LCO No. 4589 3 of 5
	78	+
	79	+	21, 47a-23 to 47a-23b, inclusive, 47a-26 to 47a-26g, inclusive, 47a-35 to 44
	80	+	47a-35b, inclusive, 47a-41a, 47a-43 and 47a-46, or under any section of 45
	81	+	the general statutes or any municipal ordinance unless such section or 46
	82	+	ordinance expressly states that such rights may be waived; (2) 47
	83	+	authorizes the landlord to confess judgment on a claim arising out of the 48
	84	+	rental agreement; (3) agrees to the exculpation or limitation of any 49
	85	+	liability of the landlord arising under law or to indemnify the landlord 50
	86	+	for that liability or the costs connected therewith; (4) agrees to waive his 51
	87	+	right to the interest on the security deposit pursuant to section 47a-21; 52
	88	+	(5) agrees to permit the landlord to dispossess him without resort to 53
	89	+	court order; (6) consents to the distraint of his property for rent; (7) 54
	90	+	agrees to pay the landlord's attorney's fees in excess of fifteen per cent 55
	91	+	of any judgment against the tenant in any action in which money 56
	92	+	damages are awarded; (8) agrees to pay a late charge prior to the 57
	93	+	expiration of the grace period set forth in section 47a-15a, as amended 58
	94	+	by this act, or to pay rent in a reduced amount if such rent is paid prior 59
	95	+	to the expiration of such grace period; (9) agrees to pay a late charge on 60
	96	+	rent payments made subsequent to such grace period in an amount 61
	97	+	exceeding the amounts set forth in section 47a-15a, as amended by this 62
	98	+	act; [or] (10) agrees to pay a heat or utilities surcharge if heat or utilities 63
	99	+	is included in the rental agreement; or (11) agrees to pay a surcharge or 64
	100	+	increased rent for occupying a dwelling unit under a month-to-month 65
	101	+	lease or holding over beyond the term of the lease. 66
	102	+	Sec. 4. Section 47a-4e of the general statutes is repealed and the 67
	103	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 68
	104	+	No rent increase for a dwelling unit shall be effective unless the 69
	105	+	landlord has given the tenant of such dwelling unit written notice of the 70
	106	+	proposed increase not less than forty-five days before the day on which 71
	107	+	the increase is proposed to take effect, except in the case of a lease with 72
	108	+	a term of one month or less, such notice shall be given a number of days 73
	109	+	equivalent to the length of a full term of such lease. If such dwelling unit 74
	110	+	is located in a municipality with a fair rent commission, such notice shall 75
	111	+	include a statement that the tenant has the right to file a complaint with 76
	112	+	Raised Bill No. 6943
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71	114
72		-	LCO 3 of 3
73	115
74		-	equivalent to the length of a full term of such lease. If such dwelling unit 52
75		-	is located in a municipality with a fair rent commission, such notice shall 53
76		-	include a statement that the tenant has the right to file a complaint with 54
77		-	such fair rent commission to dispute the rent increase. A tenant's failure 55
78		-	to respond to such notice shall not constitute the tenant's agreement to 56
79		-	such proposed increase. Nothing in this section shall be construed to (1) 57
80		-	allow a landlord to increase the rent during the term of a rental 58
81		-	agreement, or (2) alter any notice requirements concerning increases in 59
82		-	rent imposed by federal law. 60
83		-	Sec. 4. Section 47a-3 of the general statutes is repealed and the 61
84		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 62
85		-	(a) A landlord and a tenant may include in a rental agreement terms 63
86		-	and conditions not prohibited by law, including rent, term of the 64
87		-	agreement and other provisions governing the rights and obligations of 65
88		-	the parties. 66
89		-	(b) No person shall market for use in the state a residential lease or 67
90		-	form lease containing provisions that are contrary to state law. A 68
91		-	violation of the provisions of this subsection shall be deemed an unfair 69
92		-	or deceptive trade practice under subsection (a) of section 42-110b. 70
	116	+	LCO No. 4589 4 of 5
	117	+
	118	+	such fair rent commission to dispute the rent increase. A tenant's failure 77
	119	+	to respond to such notice shall not constitute the tenant's agreement to 78
	120	+	such proposed increase. Nothing in this section shall be construed to (1) 79
	121	+	allow a landlord to increase the rent during the term of a rental 80
	122	+	agreement, or (2) alter any notice requirements concerning increases in 81
	123	+	rent imposed by federal law. 82
	124	+	Sec. 5. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) On and after July 1, 2025, each 83
	125	+	landlord shall provide, at the time an individual takes possession of a 84
	126	+	residential rental dwelling unit, an application for admission as an 85
	127	+	elector to each member of such individual's household who is eligible 86
	128	+	to apply for admission as an elector pursuant to section 9-12 of the 87
	129	+	general statutes. 88
	130	+	Sec. 6. Section 47a-3 of the general statutes is repealed and the 89
	131	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 90
	132	+	(a) A landlord and a tenant may include in a rental agreement terms 91
	133	+	and conditions not prohibited by law, including rent, term of the 92
	134	+	agreement and other provisions governing the rights and obligations of 93
	135	+	the parties. 94
	136	+	(b) It shall be an unfair trade practice to market for use in the state a 95
	137	+	residential lease or form lease containing provisions that are contrary to 96
	138	+	state law. 97
93	139		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
94	140		sections:
95	141
96	142		Section 1 July 1, 2025 47a-3a
97		-	Sec. 2 July 1, 2025 47a-4(a)
98		-	Sec. 3 July 1, 2025 47a-4e
99		-	Sec. 4 July 1, 2025 47a-3
	143	+	Sec. 2 July 1, 2025 47a-15a
	144	+	Sec. 3 July 1, 2025 47a-4(a)
	145	+	Sec. 4 July 1, 2025 47a-4e
	146	+	Sec. 5 July 1, 2025 New section
	147	+	Sec. 6 July 1, 2025 47a-3
100	148
101		-	Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
102		-	In Section 2, "month-to-month lease" was changed to "month-to-month
103		-	tenancy" for consistency, and Section 4(b) was reworded for
104		-	consistency with standard drafting conventions.
	149	+	Raised Bill No. 6943
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106		-	HSG Joint Favorable Subst.
	151	+
	152	+
	153	+	LCO No. 4589 5 of 5
	154	+
	155	+	Statement of Purpose:
	156	+	To (1) require a landlord to provide to a tenant an accounting of charges,
	157	+	payments and balances owed, (2) require a landlord to apply rent
	158	+	payments to current rent before arrearages, (3) prohibit a landlord from
	159	+	requiring a tenant to pay a surcharge for a month-to-month lease or
	160	+	holding over beyond the term of the lease, (4) require a landlord to
	161	+	provide written notice to a tenant that such tenant is entitled to file a
	162	+	complaint with a fair rent commission to dispute a rent increase, (5)
	163	+	require a landlord to provide a tenant with an application for admission
	164	+	as an elector, and (6) establish as an unfair trade practice a landlord
	165	+	marketing a lease containing provisions that are contrary to state law.
	166	+
	167	+	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
	168	+	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
	169	+	underlined.]
	170	+
107	171