Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a § 47a-4
Terms prohibited in rental agreement.
Operative Text
(a) A rental agreement shall not provide that the tenant: (1) Agrees to waive or forfeit rights or remedies under this chapter and sections 47a-21, 47a-23 to 47a-23b, inclusive, 47a-26 to 47a-26g, inclusive, 47a-35 to 47a-35b, inclusive, 47a-41a, 47a-43 and 47a-46, or under any section of the general statutes or any municipal ordinance unless such section or ordinance expressly states that such rights may be waived; (2) authorizes the landlord to confess judgment on a claim arising out of the rental agreement; (3) agrees to the exculpation or limitation of any liability of the landlord arising under law or to indemnify the landlord for that liability or the costs connected therewith; (4) agrees to waive his right to the interest on the security deposit pursuant to section 47a-21; (5) agrees to permit the landlord to dispossess him without resort to court order; (6) consents to the distraint of his property for rent; (7) agrees to pay the landlord's attorney's fees in excess of fifteen per cent of any judgment against the tenant in any action in which money damages are awarded; (8) agrees to pay a late charge prior to the expiration of the grace period set forth in section 47a-15a or to pay rent in a reduced amount if such rent is paid prior to the expiration of such grace period; (9) agrees to pay a late charge on rent payments made subsequent to such grace period in an amount exceeding the amounts set forth in section 47a-15a; or (10) agrees to pay a heat or utilities surcharge if heat or utilities is included in the rental agreement. (b) A provision prohibited by subsection (a) of this section included in a rental agreement is unenforceable.
Connecticut law under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-4 prohibits rental agreements from containing certain clauses that would disadvantage tenants, such as waivers of statutory rights, confessions of judgment, landlord liability exculpation, waiver of security deposit interest, self-help eviction consent, distraint of property, excessive attorney's fee obligations, premature or excessive late charges, and heat or utilities surcharges when those costs are already included in the rent. Any such clause that does appear in a lease is automatically unenforceable under subsection (b) of § 47a-4. The provision functions as a floor of tenant protections that private contract terms cannot undercut.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in Connecticut should review their lease templates to ensure no clause runs afoul of Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-4, which voids a range of commonly attempted provisions. Compliant operators generally avoid including attorney's fee clauses exceeding fifteen percent of any money judgment, late-charge provisions that trigger before the statutory grace period, and any language purporting to let the landlord remove a tenant without a court order. Because § 47a-4(b) renders prohibited terms unenforceable rather than voiding the entire lease, a single non-compliant clause does not necessarily invalidate the whole agreement, but it does expose the landlord to challenges on that term.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-4 gives Connecticut tenants a meaningful protection: lease clauses that fall into the prohibited categories listed in that section—such as waivers of statutory remedies, consent to self-help eviction, or excessive late fees—are unenforceable regardless of whether the tenant signed the lease containing them. Tenants who believe a landlord is attempting to enforce such a clause may raise the provision's unenforceability as a defense in any related court proceeding. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid offices familiar with Connecticut housing law can help individuals understand how § 47a-4 may apply to specific lease language they have encountered.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.