What do Connecticut landlord tenant laws say about repairs, entry and deposits?

Connecticut landlord tenant day counts and deposit caps, with sources

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What repairs is a landlord responsible for in Connecticut?

Under 47a-7(a), read 2026-10-29 on cga.ct.gov, a landlord shall 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.

The same subsection says a landlord shall keep all common areas of the premises in a clean and safe condition, and 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 (47a-7(a)).

Item (6) of 47a-7(a) says a landlord shall 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.

For a single-family residence, 47a-7(c) lets the landlord and tenant agree in writing that the tenant perform the landlord's duties in items (5) and (6) of 47a-7(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.

Section 47a-7(d) covers a dwelling unit other than a single-family residence: “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.” (Connecticut General Statutes § 47a-7)

To get written bids on a habitability repair at a rental, such as plumbing, wiring or a heating system, a property manager can post the job on InstaBids.

How much notice does a landlord have to give before entering in Connecticut?

Section 47a-16(c) answers it: “The landlord shall give the tenant reasonable written or oral notice of his intent to enter and may enter only at reasonable times, except in case of emergency.” (Connecticut General Statutes § 47a-16) (read 2026-10-29).

The tenant's side is in 47a-16(a): “A tenant shall not unreasonably withhold consent to the landlord to enter into the dwelling unit in order to inspect the premises, make necessary or agreed to repairs, alterations or improvements, supply necessary or agreed to services or exhibit the dwelling unit to prospective or actual purchasers, mortgagees, tenants, workmen or contractors.” (Connecticut General Statutes § 47a-16)

When a repair needs an agreed entry window at an occupied unit, you can post the job on InstaBids with the access times and compare written bids.

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Connecticut?

Section 47a-21(d)(2) gives each landlord other than a rent receiver this deadline: “Not later than twenty-one days after termination of a tenancy or fifteen days after receiving written notification of such tenant's forwarding address, whichever is later, each landlord other than a rent receiver shall deliver to the tenant or former tenant at such forwarding address either (A) the full amount of the security deposit paid by such tenant plus accrued interest, or (B) the balance of such security deposit and accrued interest after deduction for any damages suffered by such landlord by reason of such tenant's failure to comply with such tenant's obligations, together with a written statement itemizing the nature and amount of such damages.” (Connecticut General Statutes § 47a-21) (read 2026-10-29).

The amount is capped up front by 47a-21(b): “In the case of a tenant under sixty-two years of age, a landlord shall not demand a security deposit in an amount that exceeds two months' rent.” (Connecticut General Statutes § 47a-21) For older tenants, 47a-21(b)(2) reads: “In the case of a tenant sixty-two years of age or older, a landlord shall not demand a security deposit in an amount that exceeds one month's rent.” (Connecticut General Statutes § 47a-21)

For move-out cleaning and repairs at a vacated unit, you can post the job on InstaBids with photos and compare the written bids.

Who pays for pest control in a rental in Connecticut?

For bed bugs in a dwelling unit other than a single-family unattached unit (47a-7a(a)(7)), 47a-7a(b)(1) reads: “Except as otherwise provided in this section, the landlord shall be responsible for all costs associated with inspection for and treatment of a bed bug infestation.” (Connecticut General Statutes § 47a-7a) (read 2026-10-29). That rule opens with except as otherwise provided in section 47a-7a, and for a tenant who is not physically able to prepare for inspection or treatment, 47a-7a(b)(3)(A) provides: "The landlord may, at the landlord's discretion, charge the tenant a reasonable amount for any such assistance, provided such charge is subject to a reasonable repayment schedule not to exceed six months, unless the landlord and tenant agree to one or more extensions of such repayment schedule."

The same subdivision sets the first step after the tenant's notice, for a dwelling unit other than a single-family unattached unit (47a-7a(a)(7)): “A tenant shall promptly notify a landlord orally or in writing when the tenant knows or reasonably suspects that the tenant's dwelling unit is infested with bed bugs. Not later than five business days after receiving such notice, the landlord shall inspect or obtain an inspection by a qualified inspector of the dwelling unit and any contiguous unit of which the landlord is an owner, lessor or sublessor” (Connecticut General Statutes § 47a-7a).

To compare written bids on bed bug inspection or treatment in a multi-unit building, you can post the job on InstaBids.

When can a tenant end a lease over repairs in Connecticut?

Section 47a-12(c) says the section shall apply only to leases in which the term of the tenancy is more than one month; for those leases, once the tenant delivers a written notice, the rental agreement shall terminate if the breach is not remedied within fifteen days after receipt of the notice, as 47a-12(a) reads: “If there is a material noncompliance by the landlord with the rental agreement or a noncompliance with section 47a-7 which materially affects health and safety, the tenant may deliver a written notice to the landlord specifying the acts and omissions constituting the breach. If the breach is not remedied within fifteen days after receipt of the notice, the rental agreement shall terminate on such date.” (Connecticut General Statutes § 47a-12) (read 2026-10-29). Section 47a-12(b) then reads: "The tenant may not terminate the rental agreement under subsection (a) of this section for a condition caused by the wilful or negligent act or omission of such tenant, a member of his family, or other person on the premises with his consent."

When a tenant's written notice names a repair, you can post that repair on InstaBids as one scope and compare written bids on it.

When can a tenant withhold rent over repairs in Connecticut?

Section 47a-14h(h) sends the rent to the clerk of the court once a tenant's complaint is filed there: “On each rent due date on or after the date when the complaint is filed with the clerk of the court, or within nine days thereafter or, in the case of a week-to-week tenancy, within four days thereafter, the tenant shall deposit with the clerk of the court an amount equal to the last agreed-upon rent.” (Connecticut General Statutes § 47a-14h) (read 2026-10-29). Section 47a-14h(a) limits who may file: "No tenant may institute an action under this section if a valid notice to quit possession or occupancy based upon nonpayment of rent has been served on such tenant prior to the institution of an action under this section".

For the repair at the center of a rent dispute, a landlord can post one written scope on InstaBids and get written bids from contractors.

Who does Connecticut landlord tenant law cover?

Under 47a-2(a), unless created to avoid the application of chapter 830 and section 47a-21, six arrangements are not governed by them, among them transient occupancy in a hotel or motel or similar lodging and occupancy by an owner of a condominium unit (read 2026-10-29).

The definition in 47a-1(d) names who carries the landlord's duties: ““Landlord” means the owner, lessor or sublessor of the dwelling unit, the building of which it is a part or the premises.” (Connecticut General Statutes § 47a-1)

Whoever carries the landlord's duties, a property manager or HOA board can post a unit or common-area repair on InstaBids and compare written bids.

Connecticut chapter 830 and 831 rules a property manager works to

What to put in a written repair scope for a Connecticut rental

• The repair in plain words, with photos, tied to the 47a-7(a) item a landlord shall meet, such as to make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition, or to maintain in good and safe working order the facilities and appliances supplied or required to be supplied by him.
• The date of any written notice from the tenant: for a lease in which the term of the tenancy is more than one month (47a-12(c)), 47a-12(a) says the rental agreement shall terminate if the breach is not remedied within fifteen days after receipt of the notice.
• The entry window, set after the landlord gives the tenant reasonable written or oral notice of his intent to enter (47a-16(c)), with entry only at reasonable times, except in case of emergency.
• For bed bugs in a dwelling unit other than a single-family unattached unit (47a-7a(a)(7)): the date the landlord received the tenant's notice, since not later than five business days after receiving it the landlord shall inspect or obtain an inspection by a qualified inspector (47a-7a(b)(1)).
• If the tenant of a dwelling unit other than a single-family residence is to do any of the work: an agreement in writing, entered into in good faith, for work not necessary to cure noncompliance with items (1) and (2) of 47a-7(a), that does not diminish or affect the obligation of the landlord to other tenants in the premises (47a-7(d)).

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Calling contractors one by one, or one written scope?

Calling contractors one by one gets as many ideas of the repair as calls. With one written scope that names the 47a-7(a) item a landlord shall meet, such as the fit and habitable condition, you describe it once, contractors bid in writing on that scope, and you choose who gets your number.

Property managers can post a rental job on InstaBids today.

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Sources

• Connecticut General Statutes § 47a-7a, read 2026-10-29: www.cga.ct.gov
• Connecticut General Statutes § 47a-21, read 2026-10-29: www.cga.ct.gov