Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a § 47a-11c
Breach of rental agreement by tenant. Measure of damages.
Operative Text
If a landlord terminates a residential or commercial tenancy on the grounds that the tenant committed a breach of the rental agreement and the landlord brings an action for damages for the breach, such damages shall include the amount of rent agreed to by the parties but unpaid by the tenant. The landlord shall be obligated to mitigate damages. This section shall not limit either party's rights to assert other legal or equitable claims, counterclaims, defenses or set-offs.
Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-11c, when a landlord ends a tenancy because a tenant breached the rental agreement and then sues for damages, the recoverable damages include unpaid rent that was agreed upon in the lease. Importantly, the landlord is legally required to take reasonable steps to reduce those damages—for example, by attempting to re-rent the unit. The provision also preserves the right of both parties to raise additional legal or equitable claims, counterclaims, defenses, or set-offs beyond what the section explicitly addresses.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-11c, operators who terminate a tenancy for breach and pursue a damages action are entitled to claim agreed-upon but unpaid rent as part of those damages. However, compliant landlords actively work to mitigate their losses—such as by marketing the unit and attempting to secure a new tenant promptly—because the statute imposes a legal obligation to do so. Landlords who fail to mitigate may find their recoverable damages reduced accordingly, and both parties retain the ability to assert additional claims or defenses.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-11c provides tenants with a meaningful protection: if a landlord sues for damages after terminating a tenancy for an alleged breach, the landlord is legally obligated to mitigate those damages rather than simply letting losses accumulate. Tenants may be able to raise the landlord's failure to mitigate as a defense in any such action, potentially reducing the amount owed. The provision also expressly preserves tenants' rights to assert counterclaims, defenses, or set-offs, so consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office can help clarify what options may be available.
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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