Connecticut legally requires landlords to meet certain “habitability” requirements for all rental properties. This means that they’re responsible for providing a property that meets specific health and safety standards and for fixing issues that violate them.
Connecticut Implied Warranty of Habitability
In Connecticut, the implied warranty of habitability means that a landlord must provide and maintain a safe and habitable rental property. “Implied” means the requirement applies whether or not the lease agreement specifically says so and even if the lease tries to waive the obligation.
Examples of clear habitability violations include:
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- Exposed electrical wiring.
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- A pipe leaking human waste.
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- A broken front doorknob that won’t lock.
However, the implied warranty of habitability does not guarantee that anything at the property will be pretty, clean, new or issue-free, so it doesn’t cover things like peeling carpet or dents in a wall. It only guarantees basic health and safety.
Landlord Responsibilities in Connecticut
Note: Check local city/county laws and ordinances for additional requirements.
| Item | Has To Provide? | Has To Fix / Replace? |
| Air Conditioning / Heating | Only Heating | Only If Provided |
| Hot Water | Yes | Yes |
| Kitchen Appliances | No | Only If Provided |
| Washer & Dryer | No | Only If Provided |
| Smoke/CO Detectors | Yes | Yes |
| Window Coverings | No | No |
| Light Fixtures | No | No |
| Landscaping | Not Addressed | Not Addressed |
| Garbage Removal | Yes | Yes |
| Garbage Pickup | Yes | Yes |
| Mold | N/A | Yes |
| Pest Control | No | N/A |
| Pest Infestations | N/A | Yes |
| Water Leaks | N/A | Sometimes |
| Clogs | N/A | Sometimes |
Landlord Responsibilities for Heating & Air Conditioning in Connecticut
Connecticut landlords are responsible for providing heating year-round, although there is a recent court case suggesting that a broken furnace in July isn’t enough to establish a habitability issue. Landlords don’t have to provide air conditioning.
Are Landlords Required to Provide Air Filter Replacements in Connecticut?
Connecticut landlords don’t have to replace things like air filters, unless heating equipment won’t work otherwise.
Landlord Responsibilities for Plumbing in Connecticut
Connecticut landlords must keep plumbing in good and safe working order.
Are Landlords Required To Provide Hot Water in Connecticut?
Connecticut landlords must provide and maintain running heated water for rental properties.
Are Landlords Responsible for Fixing Clogged Drains & Toilets in Connecticut?
Connecticut landlords are responsible for fixing clogs that keep the plumbing from being in good and safe working order. Tenants only have to fix damage caused by their own deliberate acts.
Are Landlords in Connecticut Responsible for Fixing Leaks?
Connecticut landlords are responsible for fixing leaks that keep the plumbing from being in good and safe working order. Tenants only have to fix damage caused by their own deliberate acts.
Landlord Responsibilities for Kitchen Appliances in Connecticut
Connecticut landlords don’t have to provide or maintain kitchen appliances such as a dishwasher, stove, oven, microwave, or refrigerator. However, if the landlord provides such appliances, the landlord has to keep them in good and safe working order.
Landlord Responsibilities for Electrical Issues in Connecticut
Connecticut landlords must keep electrical service in good and working order on the premises.
Are Landlords Responsible for Replacing Light Bulbs in Connecticut?
Connecticut landlords are not responsible for replacing light bulbs or particular light fixtures, except ones that are part of a provided appliance.
Landlord Responsibilities for Garbage Removal in Connecticut
Connecticut landlords must provide and maintain garbage containers and garbage removal services.
Landlord Responsibilities for Landscaping in Connecticut
Connecticut landlords have no specific obligation to provide landscaping or maintain it with actions like cutting grass. They only have to deal with issues like fallen trees if they interfere with the cleanliness of common areas, violate local codes, or create a hazard to health and safety.
Landlord Responsibilities Regarding Mold in Connecticut
Connecticut landlords are responsible for most mold issues. While there’s no state requirement for testing, landlords must investigate and fix mold problems since they threaten health and safety. The only exception is if the renter’s deliberate actions caused the issue.
Landlord Responsibilities Regarding Pests in Connecticut
Connecticut landlords are responsible for fixing pest issues the renter didn’t deliberately cause, including rats, roaches, mice, and ants. Bedbugs have specific requirements: the law requires a landlord to begin a special, detailed testing and treatment process within five business days of a reported infestation.
Landlord Responsibilities for Windows & Window Coverings in Connecticut
Connecticut landlords have no specific responsibility to provide or maintain particular types of window or window covering, except what’s required by local codes or basic health and safety.
Landlord Responsibilities Regarding Safety Devices in Connecticut
Connecticut landlords are responsible for providing working smoke detectors and required carbon monoxide (CO) detectors.
Are Landlords Responsible for Replacing Batteries of Safety Devices in Connecticut?
Connecticut landlords must supply required safety devices, so the landlord is also legally responsible for replacing their batteries as necessary.
Landlord Responsibilities for Washers and Dryers in Connecticut
Connecticut landlords are not required to furnish rental properties with a working washer or dryer. However, if the landlord supplies them, he has to fix them if they stop working properly.
Renter’s Rights for Repairs in Connecticut
Connecticut renters have the right to repairs for issues affecting health and safety, unless they deliberately or carelessly caused the issue themselves. To exercise their right, the renter must start by notifying the landlord of the issue in writing. The landlord gets 15 days after notice to fix the issue.
If the issue isn’t fixed, the renter can end the rental agreement, or ask a court to order repairs, monetary damages, or a rent abatement. However, the renter isn’t allowed to withhold the rent unilaterally, or repair and deduct outside of special cases.
Sources
- 1 Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-7(a)(1) & (a)(2) (2021)
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“A landlord shall: (1) Comply with the requirements of chapter 368o [generalized tenantability requirements; e.g., one water closet per two apartment rooms in a tenement, elevator access for tenements over four stories, etc.] and all applicable building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety of both the state or any political subdivision thereof; [and] (2) make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition, except where the premises are intentionally rendered unfit or uninhabitable by the tenant, a member of his family or other person on the premises with his consent, in which case such duty shall be the responsibility of the tenant…”
Source Link - 2 Welsch v. Groat, 95 Conn. App. 658 (Conn. App. Ct. 2006)
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See Welsch v. Groat, 95 Conn. App. 658 (Conn. App. Ct. 2006) (express provision in the lease accepting premises “as is” does not represent a defense to a claim that a damp and moldy basement was untenantable)
Source Link - 3 Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-7(a)(3) - (a)(6) (2021)
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“A landlord shall… (3) keep all common areas of the premises in a clean and safe condition; (4) maintain in good and safe working order and condition all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating and other facilities and appliances and elevators, supplied or required to be supplied by him; (5) provide and maintain appropriate receptacles for the removal of ashes, garbage, rubbish and other waste incidental to the occupancy of the dwelling unit and arrange for their removal; and (6) supply running water and reasonable amounts of hot water at all times and reasonable heat except if the building which includes the dwelling unit is not required by law to be equipped for that purpose or if the dwelling unit is so constructed that heat or hot water is generated by an installation within the exclusive control of the tenant or supplied by a direct public utility connection.”
Source Link - 4 Parrott v. Colon, 213 Conn. App. 375, 386-87 (Conn. App. Ct. 2022)
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“[T]o prevail in their action alleging violations of § 47a-7, the plaintiffs were required to demonstrate that the lack of repairs… affected the health, safety or habitability of the premises.”
Source Link - 5 Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-7a(b)(1) (2021)
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See Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-7a(b)(1) (2021) et al. (“A tenant shall promptly notify a landlord orally or in writing when the tenant knows or reasonably suspects that the tenant’s dwelling unit is infested with bed bugs. Not later than five business days after receiving such notice, the landlord shall inspect or obtain an inspection by a qualified inspector,” etc.)
Source Link - 6 Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-292(a)(1) (2021)
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“The State Fire Marshal and the Codes and Standards Committee shall adopt and administer a Fire Safety Code and at any time may amend the same in accordance with the provisions of section 29-292a. The code shall… include provision for (A) carbon monoxide detection and warning equipment in (i) new residential buildings not exempt under regulations adopted pursuant to this subsection and designed to be occupied by one or two families for which a building permit for new occupancy is issued on or after October 1, 2005, and (ii) all public or nonpublic school buildings, and (B) smoke detection and warning equipment in (i) residential buildings designed to be occupied by two or more families, (ii) new residential buildings…”
Source Link - 7 Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-12(a) (2021)
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“If there is a material noncompliance by the landlord with the rental agreement or a noncompliance with section 47a-7 which materially affects health and safety, the tenant may deliver a written notice to the landlord specifying the acts and omissions constituting the breach. If the breach is not remedied within fifteen days after receipt of the notice, the rental agreement shall terminate on such date. If substantially the same act or omission which constituted a prior noncompliance of which notice was given, recurs within six months of the first act of noncompliance, the tenant may terminate the rental agreement upon at least fourteen days written notice specifying (1) the date the breach complained of occurred and (2) the date the tenant intends to terminate the rental agreement by vacating the premises, which date shall be within thirty days of such breach.”
Source Link - 8 Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-14h(a) (2021)
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“The complainant may seek and the court may order interim or final relief including, but not limited to, the following: (1) An order compelling the landlord to comply… (2) an order appointing a receiver to collect rent or to correct conditions… (3) an order staying other proceedings concerning the same property; (4) an award of money damages, which may include a retroactive abatement of rent… and (5) such other relief in law or equity as the court may deem proper.”
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