New Haven, Conn., Code of Ordinances tit. V § 501
Application to the court of common pleas (New Haven Housing Code)
Operative Text
Whenever a nuisance which constitutes a serious fire hazard or is a serious threat to life, health or safety has been found to exist in a tenement house, and an order for the abatement of such nuisance has been properly made and served and has not been complied with, or not so far complied with as the appropriate authority finds reasonable, within the time allowed, then the authority may apply to the court of common pleas, pursuant to section 19-347b of the General Statutes, for a rule requiring the owners or any mortgagees or lienors of record to show cause why the court should not appoint a receiver of the rents, issues and profits of such tenement house and why said receiver should not remove or remedy such nuisance and, to secure payment of all costs of the receiver in removing or remedying such condition, including funds paid over to the receiver from the tenement house operating fund as provided herein, obtain a lien in favor of the City of New Haven having a priority over all existing mortgages or liens.
New Haven, Conn., Code of Ordinances tit. V § 501 establishes a legal mechanism that allows city authorities to escalate enforcement when a serious fire hazard or life-safety threat is found in a tenement house and an abatement order has gone unheeded. If the property owner fails to comply with the order within the allotted time, the appropriate authority may petition the court of common pleas to appoint a receiver to take control of the property's rents and income. That receiver can then use those funds to remove or remedy the hazardous condition, and the city may obtain a priority lien on the property to recover the costs of doing so.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under tit. V § 501, a landlord who receives an abatement order for a serious fire hazard or life-safety nuisance in a tenement house is expected to act promptly and fully within the time the authority specifies. Compliant operators document every remediation step taken and communicate progress to the issuing authority to demonstrate reasonable compliance before the deadline passes. Failure to satisfy the order can trigger a court proceeding that places the property's rental income under a court-appointed receiver and exposes the property to a city lien that takes priority over existing mortgages.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tit. V § 501 gives tenants in a nuisance-affected tenement house an important backstop: if the city has issued an abatement order that the owner has ignored, the city authority can ask the court of common pleas to appoint a receiver who takes over the property's rents and uses them to fix the hazardous conditions. Tenants who believe a serious fire hazard or life-safety threat exists in their building may report the condition to the appropriate New Haven authority to prompt an inspection and potential order. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid offices familiar with New Haven housing law can help residents understand what options are generally available when an abatement order has been issued but not followed.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 17, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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