Conn. Gen. Stat. § 21 § 21-80a
Retaliatory action by owner prohibited. Actions deemed not retaliatory.
Operative Text
(a) An owner shall not maintain an action or proceeding against a resident to recover possession of a dwelling unit or a mobile manufactured home space or lot, demand an increase in rent from the resident, or decrease the services to which the resident has been entitled within six months after: (1) The resident has in good faith attempted to remedy by any lawful means, including contacting officials of the state or of any town, city or borough or public agency or filing a complaint with a fair rent commission, any condition constituting a violation of any provision of this chapter or chapter 368o or of any other state statute or regulation, or of the housing and health ordinances of the municipality wherein the premises which are the subject of the complaint lie; (2) any municipal agency or official has filed a notice, complaint or order regarding such a violation; (3) the resident has in good faith requested the owner to make repairs; (4) the resident has in good faith instituted an action under subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of section 47a-14h; or (5) the resident has organized or become a member of a residents' association. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, if permitted by subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 21-80, the owner may maintain an action to recover possession of the premises if: (1) The resident is using the dwelling unit or the premises for an illegal purpose or for a purpose which is in violation of the rental agreement or for nonpayment of rent; (2) the condition complained of was caused by the wilful actions of the resident or another person in his household or a person on the premises with his consent; or (3) the owner seeks to recover possession pursuant to section 21-80 on the basis of a notice which was given to the resident before the resident's complaint. (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, an owner may increase the rent of a resident if: (1) The condition complained of was caused by the lack of due care by the resident or another person in his household or a person on the premises with his consent; (2) the owner has become liable for a substantial increase in property taxes, or a substantial increase in other maintenance or operating costs not associated with his complying with the complaint, not less than four months before the demand for an increase in rent, and the increase in rent does not exceed the prorated portion of the net increase in taxes or costs; or (3) the owner in good faith is increasing the rent in a manner permitted by subdivision (5) of subsection (b) of section 21-80. (d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to in any way limit the defense provided in section 47a-33.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 21-80a prohibits mobile manufactured home park owners from retaliating against residents who exercise certain legal rights. Specifically, within six months of a resident reporting a housing violation, requesting repairs, joining a residents' association, or taking other protected actions, an owner may not seek to evict the resident, raise their rent, or reduce their services. The law also carves out limited circumstances—such as nonpayment of rent or tenant-caused damage—where an owner's action is not considered retaliatory even if it falls within that six-month window.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 21-80a, compliant park operators are careful to ensure that any eviction proceeding, rent increase, or service reduction is grounded in a legitimate, documented reason that is clearly unrelated to a resident's protected activity. Operators generally maintain records showing that rent adjustments stem from documented cost increases—such as a substantial rise in property taxes occurring at least four months before the demand—rather than from a resident's complaint or repair request. When a resident has recently engaged in protected conduct, operators typically review the timing and basis of any proposed action to confirm it falls within one of the statute's recognized exceptions.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 21-80a gives mobile manufactured home park residents protection against retaliation for reporting housing violations, requesting repairs, filing complaints with a fair rent commission, or organizing with other residents. If an owner moves to evict you, raises your rent, or cuts services within six months of such protected activity, that timing may be relevant to a retaliation claim or defense. Tenants who believe they are experiencing retaliation can explore options such as raising the violation as a defense in an eviction proceeding, filing a complaint with a local fair rent commission, or reaching out to a tenant-rights organization for general information about their rights under this provision.
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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