Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47 § 47-285
Conversion tenant's right to purchase converted unit.
Operative Text
(a) For the first ninety days after giving a conversion notice to a tenant, a declarant shall offer to convey the converted unit occupied by that tenant to that tenant. If a tenant fails to purchase the converted unit during that ninety-day period, the declarant may not offer to dispose of an interest in that converted unit during the following nine months at a price or on terms more favorable to the offeree than the price or terms offered to the tenant. This provision does not apply to any unit which will be restricted exclusively to nonresidential use or the boundaries of which do not substantially conform to the dimensions of the unit before conversion. (b) If a declarant, in violation of subsection (a) of this section conveys a converted unit to a purchaser for value who has no knowledge of the violation, the recordation of the deed conveying that converted unit, or, in a cooperative, the conveyance, extinguishes any right a tenant may have under subsection (a) of this section to purchase if the deed or conveyance states that the declarant has complied with said subsection (a), but does not affect the right of a tenant to recover damages under section 47-292 from the declarant for a violation of said subsection (a). (c) If a tenant fails to purchase the converted unit during that ninety-day period, and the declarant thereafter enters into a contract to sell that unit to a third person, the declarant shall, within one month of executing that contract, notify the tenant of the name and address of the contract purchaser. The declarant's failure to comply with this subsection shall not constitute a defect in the title which he conveys to a third person, or otherwise affect the marketability of title to that unit.
Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47-285, when a property is converted to a condominium or cooperative, the tenant living in a unit must be given the first opportunity to buy that unit for at least 90 days after receiving a conversion notice. If the tenant does not purchase within that window, the declarant cannot offer the unit to anyone else on better terms for the following nine months. If the unit is later sold to a good-faith purchaser who had no knowledge of any violation, the tenant's right to purchase is extinguished by the recorded deed, though the tenant may still seek monetary damages from the declarant.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47-285 requires that a declarant converting residential units offer each occupying tenant the right to purchase their unit for a full 90-day period following the conversion notice. Compliant operators document the offer terms carefully, because any subsequent sale to a third party within nine months cannot be made on terms more favorable than those offered to the tenant. If a contract with a third-party buyer is eventually executed, the declarant must notify the tenant of that buyer's name and address within one month of signing the contract, even though failure to do so does not cloud the title conveyed.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47-285 gives tenants in a converting building a protected 90-day window to purchase their own unit before it can be offered to outside buyers on better terms. If a declarant sells the unit in violation of this right, a tenant whose purchase right was extinguished by a recorded deed may still pursue monetary damages against the declarant under § 47-292. Tenants who believe their right-to-purchase was not properly honored may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or housing attorney to understand the remedies available to them.
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 24, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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