A Connecticut lease agreement creates a binding relationship between a landlord and their tenant(s). The property is rented to the tenant for a fee, who in return, agrees to the terms and conditions included in the document.
Such requirements include: the contact and identifying information of both landlord and tenant, the specifics of the premises, rent, pet permission, and security deposit details, and health, safety, and other important occupational disclosures.
By Type (6)
Standard Lease Agreement
Allows a landlord to rent residential property to a tenant for a fixed period.
Room Rental Agreement
Details the rights and duties for several tenants choosing to reside together in a single unit or property.
Commercial Lease Agreement
Designed for businesses seeking to lease commercial properties within the state.
Rent-to-Own Lease Agreement
Allows a portion of the monthly rent to contribute toward the property's future purchase.
Month-to-Month Rental Agreement
Offers flexibility with its short-term leasing arrangement.
Sublease Agreement
Allows a tenant to rent out their space, maintaining responsibility to the original landlord.
Laws
Overview
Rent Control: No.
Limit on Late Fees: No.
Late Fees in Rental Agreement: Yes.
Grace Period: Yes.
License Required for Landlord: No.
Required Lease Disclosures
Connecticut imposes specific requirements for landlords and tenants when executing a lease agreement. For instance, Chapter 830 of the General Statutes of Connecticut provides that:
- Disclosure of Lead-Based Hazards. All known lead paint hazards for buildings prior to 1978 must be disclosed to the tenant.
- Bed Bug Addendum. Landlords must inform the tenants of any bed bug infestations (§ 47a-7a).
- Condominium Interest Community Disclosure. Landlords must inform the tenants if the property is in a common interest community (§ 47a-3e).
- Landlord’s Identity. Landlords must provide their personal information and that of the parties involved in managing the rental unit (§ 47a-6).
- Sprinkler Disclosure. The agreement needs to specify if a functional fire sprinkler system is installed and the date of its latest inspection (§ 47a-3f).
Security Deposit
For tenants age 62 and younger, landlords may request up to two months’ rent for a security deposit, while they may only request up to one month’s rent for tenants 62 or older. Connecticut landlords must keep tenant security deposits in a separate bank account.
Security deposits must be returned to tenants within 30 days of lease termination or 15 days of a tenant providing their forwarding address (§ 47a-21).
Landlord Right of Entry
Landlords must give tenants reasonable oral or written notice before entering the premises. Additionally, they are only allowed to enter at “reasonable times.” In the case of an emergency, landlords don’t need to give notice to tenants before entry (§ 47a-16).
Utilities
If a landlord fails to supply a tenant and the premises with essential services and utilities, a tenant may terminate the lease and sue the landlord for up to two months’ rent or double damages (§ 47a-13).
Sample
Below, you can download a free Connecticut lease agreement template in PDF or Word.
