Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a § 47a-26d
Trial. Finding. Judgment.
Operative Text
If, on the trial of a summary process complaint it is found that the defendant is the lessee of the complainant and holds over after the termination of the lease or rental agreement or, if there was no lease or rental agreement, that the defendant is the occupant of such premises and has no right or privilege to occupy the same and that notice to quit has been given as provided in this chapter, yet that the defendant holds possession or occupancy after the expiration of the time specified in such notice to quit, and the defendant does not show a title in himself which accrued after the giving of the lease or rental agreement, if any, or if the defendant does not show a title in himself existing at the time the notice to quit possession or occupancy was served upon him, the court shall forthwith enter judgment that the complainant recover possession or occupancy of the premises with his costs, and execution shall issue accordingly subject to the provisions of sections 47a-35 to 47a-41, inclusive.
Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-26d, when a court hears a summary process (eviction) case and finds that the occupant has remained on the premises after a lease or rental agreement has ended—or without any right to be there—and that a proper notice to quit was served, the court must immediately enter a judgment awarding possession back to the landlord, along with costs. The judgment leads to the issuance of an execution (a legal order to enforce removal), subject to the protections outlined in Connecticut General Statutes §§ 47a-35 through 47a-41. The occupant can avoid this outcome only by demonstrating a valid ownership interest or legal title that arose independently of the original tenancy.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-26d establishes the standard a court applies when ruling on a summary process complaint, and compliant operators generally ensure that every procedural step leading up to trial—serving a proper notice to quit, filing the complaint correctly, and documenting the end of the lease or rental agreement—is completed accurately. Because the court's judgment and the subsequent execution are conditioned on those prior steps being properly followed, property owners and managers typically maintain thorough records of lease terms, termination dates, and notice service. Once a judgment is entered under this section, enforcement proceeds subject to the stay and appeal provisions in §§ 47a-35 through 47a-41, so operators generally account for those timelines when planning for a unit to be vacated.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-26d describes the conditions under which a court must enter a judgment of possession in favor of a landlord in a summary process action, but it also preserves the tenant's ability to contest the case by presenting evidence of a valid legal title or right to occupy the premises. Tenants facing a summary process trial may benefit from understanding the procedural protections built into §§ 47a-35 through 47a-41, which govern stays of execution and related rights after a judgment is entered. Consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with Connecticut housing law can help occupants understand what defenses or post-judgment options may be available in their 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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