Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a § 47a-7c
Walk-through inspections prior to occupancy.
Operative Text
(a) As used in this section, “walk-through” means a joint physical inspection of the dwelling unit by the landlord and the tenant, or their designees, for the purpose of noting and listing any observed conditions within the dwelling unit. On and after January 1, 2024, upon or after the entry into a rental agreement but prior to the tenant's occupancy of a dwelling unit, a landlord shall offer such tenant the opportunity to conduct a walk-through of the dwelling unit. If the tenant requests such a walk-through, the landlord and tenant, or their designees, shall use a copy of the preoccupancy walk-through checklist prepared by the Commissioner of Housing under subsection (c) of this section. The landlord and the tenant, or their designees, shall specifically note on the walk-through checklist any existing conditions, defects or damages to the dwelling unit present at the time of the walk-through. After the walk-through, the landlord and the tenant, or their designees, shall sign duplicate copies of the walk-through checklist and each shall receive a copy. (b) Upon the tenant's vacating of the dwelling unit, the landlord may not retain any part of the security deposit collected under chapter 831 or seek payment from the tenant for any condition, defect or damage that was noted in the preoccupancy walk-through checklist. Such walk-through checklist shall be admissible, subject to the rules of evidence, but shall not be conclusive, as evidence of the condition of the dwelling unit at the beginning of a tenant's occupancy in any administrative or judicial proceeding. (c) Not later than December 1, 2023, the Commissioner of Housing shall (1) prepare a standardized preoccupancy walk-through checklist for any landlord and tenant to use to document the condition of any dwelling unit during a preoccupancy walk-through under subsection (a) of this section, and (2) make such checklist available on the Department of Housing's Internet web site. (d) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any tenancy under a rental agreement entered into prior to January 1, 2024.
Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-7c, effective January 1, 2024, Connecticut landlords are required to offer new tenants the chance to conduct a joint walk-through inspection of a dwelling unit before move-in. If the tenant accepts, both parties document existing conditions on a standardized checklist prepared by the Commissioner of Housing, sign duplicate copies, and each keeps one. Any conditions recorded on that checklist cannot later be used as grounds to withhold a security deposit or seek payment from the tenant after they vacate.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-7c requires landlords to extend a written or verbal offer of a pre-occupancy walk-through to every new tenant under a rental agreement dated on or after January 1, 2024. Compliant operators use the standardized checklist published by the Connecticut Department of Housing, ensure both parties sign duplicate copies, and retain their signed copy throughout the tenancy. Conditions documented on that checklist at move-in cannot form the basis of a security deposit deduction or a claim against the tenant after they vacate, so thorough and accurate documentation at the outset is a standard practice under this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-7c gives tenants the right to request a joint walk-through inspection with their landlord before moving into a unit under any rental agreement signed on or after January 1, 2024. If a walk-through is conducted and conditions are noted on the standardized checklist, those documented items generally cannot be charged against a security deposit or billed to the tenant upon move-out. Tenants who believe this provision has been violated may consider raising the signed checklist as evidence in an administrative or judicial proceeding, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for general information about available options.
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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