Groton, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 9 art. IV div. 1 (2026) § 9-111
Responsibility of owners and occupants (Groton Art. IV Div. 1: Generally)
Operative Text
(a) No owner shall maintain a dwelling or dwelling unit contained therein let to another person for the purpose of living therein which does not comply with each of the requirements in this article except where and only where failure to comply with that requirement results from the occupant's failure to meet his responsibilities as provided in this article. No owner shall let a dwelling or dwelling unit contained therein to another person for the purpose of living therein which does not comply with each of the requirements in this article, except where and only where failure to comply with that requirement results from the person's failure to meet his responsibilities as an occupant as provided in this article. No person shall occupy a dwelling or dwelling unit contained therein which does not comply with each of the requirements in this article specifically designated as the responsibility of the occupant. (b) Notwithstanding any division, section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase elsewhere in this article, damage caused to any dwelling unit by the malicious acts or the wanton negligence of the occupant of such dwelling unit or the guests of such occupant shall be the responsibility of such occupant. (c) Notwithstanding any division, section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase elsewhere in this article, before a dwelling is let to a new occupant all responsibility for maintaining and repairing the dwelling so that it conforms to the provisions of this article becomes the responsibility of the owner.
Section 9-111 of Groton's housing code establishes a shared but distinct framework of responsibility between property owners and occupants. Owners are generally required to keep rental dwellings in compliance with the article's standards, but they are not held responsible for conditions that result directly from an occupant's failure to meet their own duties under the code. Occupants, in turn, bear responsibility for conditions specifically assigned to them by the article, as well as any damage they or their guests cause through malicious acts or wanton negligence. Critically, whenever a dwelling turns over to a new occupant, full responsibility for bringing the unit into compliance with the article reverts entirely to the owner before the new tenancy begins.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 9-111, compliant property owners and managers ensure that every dwelling unit meets the article's standards before it is rented to any new occupant — no exceptions apply at the point of turnover. During an active tenancy, operators generally document the condition of the unit at move-in and maintain records that distinguish between owner-caused deficiencies and any deterioration attributable to occupant conduct or occupant-guest conduct. Where an owner believes a code deficiency stems from an occupant's failure to meet their responsibilities under the article, maintaining clear documentation of that distinction is a practice consistent with the allocation of duties established in § 9-111.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 9-111 gives tenants a meaningful baseline protection: before a landlord can rent a dwelling to a new occupant, the owner bears full responsibility for bringing the unit into compliance with Groton's housing code standards. Tenants also have defined responsibilities under the article, and § 9-111 makes clear that damage caused by a tenant's own malicious acts or wanton negligence falls on the tenant rather than the owner. Tenants who believe an owner is failing to meet their obligations under this provision may consider documenting conditions, contacting Groton's local housing or code enforcement office, or reaching out to a tenant-rights organization for general information about available complaint processes.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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