Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a § 47a-20e
Protection of tenant in foreclosed property.
Operative Text
(a) For purposes of this section: (1) “Bona fide tenant” means a tenant who (A) is not the mortgagor or owner of the property, and (B) entered into the rental agreement in an arms-length transaction; and (2) “Premises”, “rental agreement” and “tenant” have the same meanings as provided in section 47a-1. (b) Whenever a mortgage or lien of residential real property has been foreclosed and there is a bona fide tenant in possession on the date absolute title to the property vests in the mortgagee, lienholder or successor in interest, any execution of ejectment issued pursuant to section 49-22 against such tenant shall be stayed and no summary process action pursuant to chapter 832 or other action to dispossess such tenant shall be commenced until (1) in the case of a written rental agreement entered into more than sixty days before the commencement of the foreclosure action, the expiration date contained in such rental agreement or sixty days after the date absolute title vests in the mortgagee, lienholder or successor in interest, whichever occurs first, or (2) in the case of a rental agreement other than one described in subdivision (1) of this subsection, thirty days after the date absolute title vests in the mortgagee, lienholder or successor in interest, except that a summary process action or other action to dispossess such tenant may be commenced prior to such date for a reason set forth in section 47a-23 or 47a-31 other than for the reason that the tenant no longer has the right or privilege to occupy the premises as a result of such judgment of foreclosure.
Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-20e, when a residential property is foreclosed and a bona fide tenant — one who is not the former owner and who entered the lease at arm's length — is living there when title transfers to the new owner, that tenant cannot be immediately removed. Eviction proceedings are stayed for either the remaining term of a written lease (if it was signed more than 60 days before the foreclosure action began) or for 30 to 60 days after title vests, depending on the type of rental agreement. The new owner may still pursue eviction for independent reasons recognized under Connecticut law, such as nonpayment of rent, but not solely because the foreclosure occurred.
Plain English — not legal advice.
A new owner who acquires residential property through foreclosure must recognize that Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-20e restricts how quickly a bona fide tenant can be removed. Compliant operators generally identify whether a written lease was signed more than 60 days before the foreclosure action commenced, because that determines whether the full lease term or a 60-day post-title window applies. Eviction proceedings for qualifying independent grounds — such as those listed in §§ 47a-23 or 47a-31 — may still be initiated, but initiating removal solely on the basis of the foreclosure judgment is not permitted under this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-20e provides bona fide tenants in foreclosed properties with a protected period before any eviction action can be started by the new owner. Depending on when and how the rental agreement was signed, this protection may extend through the remaining lease term or for a set number of days after title transfers. Tenants who believe a new owner is attempting to remove them in violation of this provision may raise it as a defense in any summary process proceeding, contact a local tenant-rights organization for general information, or seek guidance from Connecticut's legal aid resources.
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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