Connecticut Tenant Law: Security Deposits, Late Fees & Landlord Entry (2026)

Security deposits

Max

Two months' rent for a tenant under 62; one month's rent for a tenant 62 or older (a landlord who took more than one month's rent from a tenant who later turns 62 must return the excess on request). Advance payment of the first month's rent and a key or special-equipment deposit are not 'security deposit'. The landlord must immediately put the deposit in an escrow account at a Connecticut financial institution and, within 30 days of receiving it, tell the tenant in writing the amount and the name and address of the institution. A landlord may not charge a move-in or move-out fee (47a-4d(b)).

Return deadline days

21 days

Itemization required

Yes

Interest required

Yes. The landlord must pay interest each year at a rate not less than the 'deposit index' set under section 36a-26 (never waivable by lease, 47a-4(a)(4)). Interest is paid to the tenant or credited toward rent on the tenancy anniversary, and if the tenancy ends or the deposit is returned earlier, within 21 days after that. No interest is owed for any month in which the tenant was more than 10 days late with rent, unless the landlord imposed a late charge.

Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. 47a-21(a), (b), (d), (h), (i); 47a-4(a)(4); 47a-4d(b)

Late fees

Rule

A late charge is allowed only if the written rental agreement provides for it, and only after the grace period: 9 days after the due date (4 days for a one-week tenancy). Since January 1, 2026, the grace period is 5 days longer if the landlord's online rent payment system prevents the tenant from paying on time. The charge may not exceed the lesser of $5 per day up to $50, or 5% of the delinquent rent (5% of the tenant's share if a government or charity pays part of the rent), and only one late charge may be assessed per late payment. A lease clause that charges earlier or more is unenforceable.

Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. 47a-15a(a), (b); 47a-4(a)(8), (9), (b)

Landlord entry

Notice

No fixed number of hours or days in the statute. The landlord must give reasonable written or oral notice of the intent to enter and may enter only at reasonable times, except in an emergency. The tenant may not unreasonably withhold consent to entry to inspect, make agreed repairs or improvements, supply agreed services or show the unit to buyers, mortgagees, tenants, workers or contractors. Without consent the landlord may enter only in an emergency, during a tenant's extended absence (if the tenant was to notify the landlord), under a court order, or if the tenant abandoned or surrendered the unit. If the landlord enters unlawfully or makes repeated demands that unreasonably harass, the tenant may recover actual damages of at least one month's rent plus reasonable attorney's fees, and may seek an injunction or end the lease.

Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. 47a-16, 47a-16a, 47a-18a

Ending a month-to-month tenancy

Tenant

Connecticut statute sets no notice period for a tenant ending a month-to-month tenancy. Unless the lease fixes a term, the tenancy runs month to month (week to week if rent is weekly) (47a-3b). Check the lease terms.

Landlord

Written notice to quit possession, delivered at least 3 days before the lease ends or the date stated in the notice, on a ground in 47a-23(a): lapse of time, lease violation, nonpayment of rent after the grace period, nuisance and others. The notice must use the statutory form and state the reason. For nonpayment, the notice may be delivered in the month after the unpaid month and still ends the tenancy. A landlord must then bring a court summary process action; self-help eviction is not allowed. Tenants aged 62+ or with a disability in buildings of 5+ units may be evicted only for the good causes in 47a-23c(b).

Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. 47a-3b; 47a-23(a)-(d); 47a-23c; 47a-15a(a); 47a-4(a)(5)

Rent increases

Rule

No rent increase is effective unless the landlord gave the tenant written notice at least 45 days before the date the increase takes effect (for a lease term of one month or less, notice equal to a full term of the lease). The tenant's silence is not agreement. Rent cannot be raised during the term of a rental agreement. Applies to rental agreements entered into, renewed or extended on or after October 1, 2024. For tenants aged 62+ or disabled in buildings of 5+ units, increases must be 'fair and equitable' under 7-148c and can be challenged at the fair rent commission or in court (47a-23c(c)). An increase demanded within six months after a protected tenant complaint is retaliation unless an exception applies (47a-20, 47a-20a).

Statewide rent control

No statewide rent control found in chapters 830-832; the statute only requires notice and bars increases mid-term.

Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. 47a-4e; 47a-23c(c); 47a-20, 47a-20a

Repairs & habitability

Rule

The landlord must comply with housing and building codes affecting health and safety, make all repairs needed to keep the premises fit and habitable (unless the tenant or a guest caused the damage), keep common areas clean and safe, maintain electrical, plumbing, heating and other supplied facilities, provide waste receptacles, and supply running water, reasonable hot water and reasonable heat (47a-7(a)). A lease cannot allow rent for a period when the landlord is not complying (47a-4a). After written notice of a material breach affecting health or safety, if it is not fixed within 15 days the tenant may end a term lease (longer than one month); a repeat within six months allows termination on 14 days' notice (47a-12). If the landlord fails to supply an essential service (heat, water, hot water, electricity, gas), the tenant may after notice buy it and deduct the cost from rent, find substitute housing if it is not restored within 48 hours, or, if the failure is wilful, end the lease and recover up to two months' rent or double actual damages, whichever is greater (47a-13). A tenant may also sue in housing court and pay rent into court after first complaining to the municipal housing or health agency at least 21 days earlier (47a-14h). The statute has no general repair-and-deduct right outside essential services.

Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. 47a-7, 47a-4a, 47a-12, 47a-13, 47a-14h

Retaliation

Rule

A landlord may not bring a possession action, demand a rent increase or decrease services within six months after the tenant in good faith tried to fix a code violation by any lawful means (including complaining to officials or a fair rent commission), a municipal agency filed a notice, complaint or order, the tenant asked for repairs, started an action under 47a-14h, or organized or joined a tenants' union. Exceptions: nonpayment or lease violation, landlord needs the unit for own home in good faith, condition caused by the tenant or their guest, a notice to end a periodic tenancy given before the complaint; and a rent increase is allowed if the tenant caused the condition or the landlord's taxes or operating costs substantially rose (47a-20a).

Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. 47a-20, 47a-20a

Clauses often unenforceable in Connecticut

• Waiving the tenant's rights or remedies under the landlord-tenant statutes or any ordinance (47a-4(a)(1))
• Authorizing the landlord to confess judgment (47a-4(a)(2))
• Exculpating or limiting the landlord's liability, or making the tenant indemnify the landlord (47a-4(a)(3))
• Waiving the right to interest on the security deposit (47a-4(a)(4))
• Letting the landlord dispossess the tenant without a court order (47a-4(a)(5))
• Consenting to distraint (seizure) of the tenant's property for rent (47a-4(a)(6))
• Tenant paying the landlord's attorney's fees above 15% of a money judgment against the tenant (47a-4(a)(7))
• A late charge before the 9-day grace period ends, or above the cap of $5/day (max $50) or 5% (47a-4(a)(8), (9); 47a-15a)
• A heat or utilities surcharge when heat or utilities are included in the rent (47a-4(a)(10))
• Move-in or move-out fees, or application fees other than a screening-report fee of $50 plus CPI adjustment (47a-4d(b), (c))
• Requiring electronic transfer as the only way to pay rent or deposit (47a-4c)