Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a § 47a-7
Landlord's responsibilities.
Operative Text
(a) A landlord shall: (1) Comply with the requirements of chapter 368o and all applicable building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety of both the state or any political subdivision thereof; (2) make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition, except where the premises are intentionally rendered unfit or uninhabitable by the tenant, a member of his family or other person on the premises with his consent, in which case such duty shall be the responsibility of the tenant; (3) keep all common areas of the premises in a clean and safe condition; (4) maintain in good and safe working order and condition all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating and other facilities and appliances and elevators, supplied or required to be supplied by him; (5) provide and maintain appropriate receptacles for the removal of ashes, garbage, rubbish and other waste incidental to the occupancy of the dwelling unit and arrange for their removal; and (6) supply running water and reasonable amounts of hot water at all times and reasonable heat except if the building which includes the dwelling unit is not required by law to be equipped for that purpose or if the dwelling unit is so constructed that heat or hot water is generated by an installation within the exclusive control of the tenant or supplied by a direct public utility connection. (b) If any provision of any municipal ordinance, building code or fire code requires a greater duty of the landlord than is imposed under subsection (a) of this section, then such provision of such ordinance or code shall take precedence over the provision requiring such lesser duty in said subsection. (c) The landlord and tenant of a single-family residence may agree in writing that the tenant perform the landlord's duties specified in subdivisions (5) and (6) of subsection (a) and also specified repairs, maintenance tasks, alterations, or remodeling, provided the transaction is entered into in good faith and not for the purpose of evading the obligations of the landlord. (d) The landlord and tenant of a dwelling unit other than a single-family residence may agree that the tenant is to perform specified repairs, maintenance tasks, alterations or remodeling if (1) the agreement of the parties is entered into in good faith; (2) the agreement is in writing; (3) the work is not necessary to cure noncompliance with subdivisions (1) and (2) of subsection (a) of this section; and (4) the agreement does not diminish or affect the obligation of the landlord to other tenants in the premises.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-7 sets out the baseline responsibilities Connecticut landlords owe to tenants regarding the condition of rental property. Under this provision, landlords must keep premises habitable, maintain common areas and building systems, arrange for waste removal, and supply running water and heat—unless local codes impose even stricter duties, in which case those higher standards apply. In certain circumstances, written agreements can shift some of these duties to tenants, but only when made in good faith and within the limits the statute allows.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators subject to Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-7 generally maintain compliance by routinely inspecting and repairing electrical, plumbing, heating, and sanitary systems, keeping common areas clean and safe, and arranging for regular waste removal. Where a local building or fire code imposes a higher standard than the state statute, compliant operators follow that stricter local requirement. Landlords who wish to shift certain maintenance duties—such as waste removal or hot-water management—to a tenant typically do so through a written agreement made in good faith, and for single-family residences the statute provides somewhat broader flexibility for such arrangements than it does for multi-unit buildings.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-7 establishes a tenant's right to a habitable unit with functioning utilities, maintained common areas, and proper waste-removal arrangements. If a landlord fails to meet these obligations, tenants may have remedies available under Connecticut law, such as raising the violation as a defense in an eviction proceeding or filing a complaint with a local housing or building code enforcement office. Tenant-rights organizations in Connecticut can help residents understand which specific remedies may be available and how local ordinances—which can impose duties beyond those in § 47a-7—might strengthen a tenant's position.
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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