Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a § 47a-20
(Formerly Sec. 19-375a). Retaliatory action by landlord prohibited.
Operative Text
A landlord shall not maintain an action or proceeding against a tenant to recover possession of a dwelling unit, demand an increase in rent from the tenant, or decrease the services to which the tenant has been entitled within six months after: (1) The tenant 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 provisions of chapter 368o, or of chapter 412, 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 tenant has in good faith requested the landlord to make repairs; (4) the tenant has in good faith instituted an action under subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of section 47a-14h; or (5) the tenant has organized or become a member of a tenants' union.
Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-20, Connecticut law prohibits landlords from taking certain adverse actions against tenants within six months of specific protected activities. Those prohibited actions include initiating eviction proceedings, raising rent, or reducing services. The protected activities that trigger this six-month window include a tenant's good-faith complaint about housing conditions, a government agency filing a violation notice, a tenant's repair request, a tenant filing a court action under § 47a-14h, or a tenant organizing or joining a tenants' union.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-20 establishes a six-month protected period during which compliant property owners refrain from seeking eviction, increasing rent, or reducing services after a tenant engages in any of the listed protected activities. Operators generally document the independent, non-retaliatory business reasons behind any rent adjustment or service change that occurs near a protected event. Maintaining clear records of maintenance schedules, lease terms, and communications helps demonstrate that any action taken was unrelated to a tenant's exercise of their rights under this statute.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-20 gives tenants in Connecticut a legal shield against landlord retaliation for activities such as reporting housing code violations, requesting repairs, filing complaints with a fair rent commission, or joining a tenants' union. If a landlord initiates eviction proceedings, raises rent, or cuts services within six months of one of these protected activities, a tenant may raise the statute as a defense in court or file a complaint with the relevant local or state agency. Tenant-rights organizations in Connecticut can help individuals understand how this protection applies and what documentation may be useful to gather.
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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