Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a § 47a-14
Damage or destruction of unit. Tenant's remedies.
Operative Text
(a) If the dwelling unit or premises are damaged or destroyed by fire or other casualty to an extent that enjoyment of the dwelling unit is substantially impaired, the tenant, unless such damage or destruction is caused by the tenant's negligence or wilful act, shall not be liable to pay rent for such period of time as such impairment continues. In such case, the tenant may (1) immediately vacate the premises and notify the landlord in writing within fourteen days thereafter of his intention to terminate the rental agreement, in which case the rental agreement shall terminate as of the date of vacating; or (2) if continued occupancy is lawful, vacate any part of the dwelling unit rendered unusable by the fire or other casualty, in which case the tenant's liability for use and occupancy shall be reduced in proportion to the diminution in the fair rental value of the dwelling unit. (b) If the rental agreement is terminated, the landlord shall return all security and prepaid rent recoverable under section 47a-21. Accounting for rent, in the event of termination or apportionment, shall be made as of the date of the fire or other casualty.
Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-14, when a rental unit is damaged or destroyed by fire or another casualty to the point that the tenant's enjoyment is substantially impaired, the tenant is generally relieved from paying rent for as long as that impairment lasts—provided the damage was not caused by the tenant's own negligence or intentional act. The tenant may choose to vacate entirely and terminate the rental agreement by notifying the landlord in writing within fourteen days, or, if continued occupancy is lawful, may remain and pay a reduced amount reflecting the diminished usable space. If the agreement is terminated, the landlord must return any security deposit and prepaid rent in accordance with § 47a-21, with rent accounting running from the date of the casualty.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-14, compliant operators typically document the extent of casualty damage promptly and assess whether continued occupancy remains lawful before collecting any rent. When a tenant exercises the right to terminate, landlords generally process the return of security deposits and prepaid rent under § 47a-21 and calculate any rent adjustments from the date of the fire or other casualty. Operators who continue to collect full rent during a period of substantial impairment—absent tenant-caused negligence or willful conduct—risk exposure to claims that such rent was improperly collected.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-14 provides tenants with meaningful protections when a rental unit is substantially damaged by fire or other casualty through no fault of their own, including the right to stop paying rent for the duration of the impairment. Tenants who wish to end the rental agreement may vacate and send written notice to the landlord within fourteen days; those who prefer to stay may be entitled to a rent reduction proportional to the loss of usable space. Tenants who believe these rights have been violated may consider contacting a local tenant-rights organization, raising the provision as a defense in any rent-related proceeding, or consulting with a housing attorney to understand available options.
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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