Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a § 47a-33
(Formerly Sec. 52-540a). Defense that action is retaliatory.
Operative Text
In any action for summary process under this chapter or section 21-80 it shall be an affirmative defense that the plaintiff brought such action solely because the defendant attempted to remedy, by lawful means, including contacting officials of the state or of any town, city, borough or public agency or filing a complaint with a fair rent commission, any condition constituting a violation of any of the provisions of chapter 368o, or of chapter 412, or of any other state statute or regulation or of the housing or health ordinances of the municipality wherein the premises which are the subject of the complaint lie. The obligation on the part of the defendant to pay rent or the reasonable value of the use and occupancy of the premises which are the subject of any such action shall not be abrogated or diminished by any provision of this section.
Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-33, a tenant facing eviction may raise as an affirmative defense the claim that the landlord filed the eviction action solely because the tenant used lawful means to address a housing, health, or other statutory violation—such as contacting government officials or filing a complaint with a fair rent commission. If this defense is established, the eviction action may be defeated on retaliatory grounds. Importantly, the provision does not eliminate the tenant's underlying obligation to pay rent or the reasonable value of occupancy during the proceedings.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-33 means that a summary process (eviction) action can be challenged and potentially defeated if a court finds it was brought solely in retaliation for a tenant's lawful complaints about housing or health conditions. Compliant operators generally document legitimate, non-retaliatory reasons for any eviction action and maintain records showing that enforcement decisions are based on lease terms or statutory grounds rather than a tenant's exercise of legal rights. Keeping clear, contemporaneous records of lease violations and communications can help demonstrate that an eviction action was not motivated by a tenant's protected activity.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-33 gives tenants in Connecticut the right to raise retaliation as an affirmative defense in an eviction proceeding, arguing that the landlord filed the action solely because the tenant took lawful steps—such as reporting code violations to a government agency or filing a complaint with a fair rent commission—to address unsafe or illegal conditions. This defense does not, however, eliminate the obligation to pay rent or the reasonable value of occupancy while the case is pending. Tenants who believe they are facing a retaliatory eviction may consider consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider to understand how this defense might apply to 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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