Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a § 47a-29
(Formerly Sec. 52-537). Action by reversion or remainderman.
Operative Text
When any lessee occupies any land, building, apartment or dwelling unit under a lease or rental agreement from a tenant for life, any person entitled to the reversion or remainder may, upon the death of such tenant for life, proceed against such lessee by summary process, in the manner prescribed in this chapter. All proceedings commenced by such tenant for life for the recovery of such leased premises may, upon his death, be prosecuted in the name of the reversioner or remainderman, in the same manner as the lessor might have prosecuted the same if living.
Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-29 (formerly Sec. 52-537), when a tenant holds a lease granted by a life tenant—someone whose ownership interest ends at their death—the person who inherits the property interest (the reversioner or remainderman) gains the legal standing to pursue eviction through summary process once the life tenant dies. Any eviction proceedings that the life tenant had already started do not automatically end at death; instead, they may be continued by the reversioner or remainderman as if the original landlord were still alive. This provision ensures continuity of landlord authority across the transition of property interests caused by a life tenant's death.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners or managers who hold a reversion or remainder interest should be aware that Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-29 grants them the right to initiate or continue summary process proceedings against a lessee whose tenancy was created by a life tenant, once that life tenant has died. Compliant operators in this situation typically document their legal interest in the property and formally substitute themselves into any pending proceedings or file new summary process actions as authorized by this statute. Maintaining clear records of the property's ownership structure and the original lease terms helps support a smooth transition of landlord authority under this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
If you are renting from someone whose interest in the property was tied to their lifetime, Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-29 means that when that person dies, a new party—the reversioner or remainderman—may have the legal right to pursue eviction proceedings against you through Connecticut's summary process. Tenants in this situation have the right to understand who now holds the landlord interest and to respond to any summary process action in court, where the validity of the proceedings can be examined. Consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service familiar with Connecticut landlord-tenant law can help you understand how this provision may affect your tenancy.
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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