Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a § 47a-4a
Effect of failure to comply with section 47a-7.
Operative Text
A rental agreement shall not permit the receipt of rent for any period during which the landlord has failed to comply with subsection (a) of section 47a-7.
Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-4a, a rental agreement cannot lawfully authorize a landlord to collect rent for any period of time during which the landlord has not met the habitability and maintenance obligations set out in § 47a-7(a). In effect, the rule ties the right to receive rent to the landlord's ongoing compliance with those baseline property-condition duties. A rental agreement clause that purports to allow rent collection despite such noncompliance is rendered unenforceable by this provision.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-4a makes clear that the right to collect rent is conditioned on continuous compliance with the duties described in § 47a-7(a), which cover matters such as maintaining safe, habitable conditions. Property owners and managers generally document their maintenance activities, respond promptly to repair needs, and keep records showing that the property meets the required standards throughout each rental period. A lease term that attempts to waive or override this linkage between habitability compliance and rent receipt is not enforceable under Connecticut law.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-4a provides tenants with a meaningful protection: rent is not legally owed for any period during which a landlord has failed to satisfy the habitability obligations of § 47a-7(a). Tenants who believe their landlord has not met those obligations may have grounds to raise this provision as a defense in a nonpayment or eviction proceeding, or to file a complaint with a local housing authority or code enforcement office. Consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office can help a tenant understand what options may be available under this provision.
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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