Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a § 47a-14a
(Formerly Sec. 19-347k). Action for private receivership of tenement house. Complaint. Notice of action.
Operative Text
(a) A majority or more of the tenants occupying a tenement house, as defined in sections 19a-355 and 47a-1, may bring an action on behalf of all the tenants occupying such tenement house, alleging under oath the existence of one or more of the following conditions: Housing code violations, notice of termination of fuel oil or bottled gas delivery, lack of heat, running water, electricity, light or adequate sewage disposal facilities, other conditions dangerous to life, health or safety and infestation of rodents, vermin or other pests. The complaint shall set forth the address of the property and a description of the conditions alleged to be hazardous to life, health and safety. (b) Such action shall be brought in the superior court for the judicial district in which the premises are located in the same manner as in civil process naming all owners and mortgagees of record as defendants. There shall be no entry fee in such action. (c) The plaintiffs shall cause a notice of the pendency of such action to be filed in the land records of the town in which such premises are located.
Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-14a, when a majority or more of the tenants in a tenement house collectively identify serious housing conditions—such as code violations, loss of heat or utilities, rodent infestations, or other dangers to life, health, or safety—they may file a sworn legal action in Superior Court on behalf of all occupants. The lawsuit names all property owners and mortgagees of record as defendants, and no court entry fee is required. Once filed, a notice of the pending action must be recorded in the local land records where the property is located.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and mortgagees of record in Connecticut should be aware that Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-14a empowers a majority of tenants in a tenement house to initiate Superior Court proceedings when hazardous conditions—including code violations, utility failures, or pest infestations—go unaddressed. Compliant operators generally maintain properties in a condition that meets housing code standards, promptly address utility and habitability issues, and keep lines of communication open with tenants to resolve concerns before they escalate to formal legal action. Because the statute requires that a lis pendens notice be filed in the town's land records, such an action can affect title and financing arrangements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-14a gives tenants in a tenement house a collective legal tool: when a majority of occupants agree that dangerous conditions exist—such as housing code violations, loss of heat, water, electricity, or pest infestations—they may file a sworn complaint in Superior Court on behalf of all residents, with no court entry fee required. The action must name all owners and mortgagees of record, and a notice of the lawsuit is recorded in the town's land records, creating a public record of the dispute. Tenants interested in this remedy may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider to understand how this provision applies to their building's circumstances.
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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