When the Landlord Will Not Fix It

A landlord complies with the building and housing codes affecting health and safety, makes all repairs needed to keep the premises fit and habitable, keeps common areas clean and safe, keeps the electrical, plumbing, heating and other facilities in good working order, provides for trash removal, and supplies running water, reasonable hot water and reasonable heat.

• Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-7StatuteLandlord's responsibilitiesOpens cga.ct.gov ↗

When a landlord who is required to supply heat, water, hot water, electricity, gas or another essential service fails to, for reasons in the landlord's control, the tenant may give notice of the breach and then:

• Buy reasonable amounts of the service and deduct the actual and reasonable cost from the rent.
• Find reasonable substitute housing if the service is not restored within forty eight hours, or at once if the same failure recurs within six months, and the rent stops for that time.
• Where the failure is wilful, end the lease and recover up to two months' rent or double the actual damages, whichever is greater.
• None of these rights arise before the tenant has given the landlord reasonable notice, or where the tenant or someone with the tenant's consent caused the condition. The tenant may recover reasonable attorney's fees.

• Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-13StatuteFailure of landlord to supply essential services. Tenant's remediesOpens cga.ct.gov ↗

A tenant may also sue in the housing court to make the landlord meet these duties, paying the rent into court while the case goes on. The tenant has to have complained to the town's housing or health code agency at least 21 days before filing, and the entry fee is $25, which may be waived.

• Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-14hStatuteAction by individual tenant to enforce landlord's responsibilities. Payment of rent into courtOpens cga.ct.gov ↗