Connecticut Rental Agreement

Last Updated: May 13, 2025 by Roberto Valenzuela

A Connecticut rental agreement is a legal contract between a landlord overseeing a rental property and a tenant using the property. California landlord-tenant law governs and regulates these agreements.

Connecticut Rental Agreement Types

12 pages
Residential Lease Agreement

A Connecticut residential lease agreement (“rental agreement”) is a legal contract for a tenant to rent a residential property from a landlord, subject to terms and conditions agreed by all parties.

11 pages
Month-to-Month Rental Agreement

A Connecticut month-to-month lease agreement is a contract (not necessarily written) where a tenant rents property from a landlord. The full rental term is one month, renewable on a month-to-month basis.

3 pages
Rental Application Form

Connecticut landlords may use a rental application form to screen prospective tenants. A rental application collects information relating to finances, rental history, and past evictions.

7 pages
Residential Sublease Agreement

A Connecticut sublease agreement is a legal contract where a tenant ("sublessor") rents (“subleases”) property to a new tenant (“sublessee”), usually with the landlord’s permission.

9 pages
Roommate Agreement

A Connecticut roommate agreement is a legal contract between two or more people (“co-tenants”) who share a rental property according to rules they set, including for things like splitting the rent. This agreement binds the co-tenants living together, and doesn’t include the landlord.

8 pages
Commercial Lease Agreement

A Connecticut commercial lease agreement is a legal contract arranging the rental of commercial space between a landlord and a business.

Common Residential Rental Agreements in Connecticut

Connecticut Required Residential Lease Disclosures

  • Landlord’s Name and Address (required for all leases) – Connecticut landlords must give the tenant their name and address, or that of their authorized agent. This ensures smooth communication of legal notice. In most cases, landlords also include phone number and email address, as applicable.
  • Move-In Checklist (required for all leases) Landlords must provide a move-in checklist to document existing property damage before the tenant moves in. This ensures accurate deductions from the security deposit upon move-out.
  • Notice of Elderly and Disabled Tenant Rights (required for all leases) – Landlords must provide a Housing Commission notice of special protections against eviction and rent increases. These protections are for tenants over age 62, disabled tenants, and family members who live with them.
  • Common Interest Community Notice (required for some leases) – Common interest communities in Connecticut must provide notice in the lease about potential community expectations.
  • Operative Fire Sprinkler System Notice (required for some leases) – Some Connecticut properties require a fire sprinkler system. If they do, they must be rented together with a statement that the system is installed and in good condition. The notice must be in 12-point uniform font.
  • Bed Bug Disclosure (required for all leases) – Connecticut landlords must disclose any known or suspected infestation in an area which touches the rental property. The tenant also has a right to get the property’s bed bug inspection history upon request.
  • Lead-Based Paint Disclosures (required for some leases) – Landlords must provide an EPA-approved disclosure and informational pamphlet to tenants renting any property built before 1978.

To learn more about required disclosures in Connecticut, click here.

Connecticut Landlord Tenant Laws

  • Warranty of Habitability – Connecticut landlords can only rent out habitable property. This means providing certain basic health and safety features like heat, plumbing, and electricity. Landlords must repair any issues within 15 days after proper notice from the tenant. Failure to repair lets a tenant sue the landlord or end the lease. Tenants aren’t allowed to withhold rent, or to repair and deduct in most cases.
  • Evictions – Connecticut landlords may evict for rent default, lease violations, or illegal acts, among other things. Before filing eviction, landlords must serve tenants with prior notice of three to 30 days, depending on the eviction type and the tenant’s CARES Act status. State law has extra eviction protections for elderly or disabled tenants and their families. Most evictions in Connecticut take a month or more.
  • Security Deposits – Connecticut caps security deposits at a maximum of two months’ rent, for most leases. For tenants over age 62, this is instead one month’s rent. When the lease ends, a landlord must return any unused portion of a tenant’s security deposit. The time limit is within 21 days of move-out, or within 15 days of getting the forwarding address.
  • Lease Termination – Connecticut lets tenants break a month-to-month lease with three days of advance notice. Terminating a fixed-term lease early requires (in most cases) active military duty, landlord harassment, uninhabitable property, or domestic abuse.
  • Rent Increases and Fees – Connecticut law requires a default 45 days of notice a rent increase. For leases month-to-month or shorter, this is instead notice equal to the lease term. The state lets elderly and disabled tenants object to unfair rent increases and have the fair rent commission review. Late rent fees are capped at $5/day up to a maximum $50, or 5% of the rental payment. Returned check fees have a $20 per check limit.
  • Landlord Entry – Connecticut landlords may enter rental property for reasonable business purposes like maintenance, inspections, and property showings. Before entering, they must provide reasonable advance notice (at least 24 hours as a rule of thumb), except for emergencies.
  • Settling Legal Disputes – Connecticut allows small claims courts to hear landlord-tenant disputes, if the amount in controversy is under $5,000. In some parts of the state, disputes may be heard by a local Housing Session instead.

To learn more about landlord tenant laws in Connecticut, click here.

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