1. Renters Have Legal Rights
Presented By: Hartford Equal Justice Collaborative
CT Alliance for Basic Human Needs
65 Hungerford St., Hartford
CTAllianceforBasicHumanNeeds

2. During the Presentation You’ll Hear About
General information
Resources

3. Security Deposits Before you move in… While you live there…
Landlord can ask for 3 month’s rent
Two month’s rent in security deposit, and
First month’s rent
Pay by check or money order, get a receipt
Take photos or make notes about any problems with the apartment
If you are 62 or older….
Landlord can ask for only one month’s rent in security deposit
After one year of living in public senior housing, your landlord MUST return your entire security deposit plus interest
While you live there…
Every year the landlord must pay you interest on your security deposit

4. Security Deposits-When You Move Out
Write a letter to your landlord
To: [Landlord’s name, Landlord’s address, and Date]
I was a tenant at: [Address of the place you lived].
My move-out date was: [Date you moved].
The law says you must return my security deposit, [list amount] plus interest, within 30 days of receiving this letter. Please mail it to me at this address: [List an address where you can get mail].
[Your signature, date, and printed name]
Make 3 copies of your letter: Mail one copy to the landlord certified mail, one regular mail, and keep one for your records.
*Take photos-you can’t be charged for normal wear and tear to the apartment
*If there’s a new landlord-You still have the right to get your security deposit back. Mail your letter to the new landlord.

5. Security Deposits-After You Mail the Letter
Landlord has 30 days after receiving your letter to return your deposit minus a listed cost of any repairs.
If he doesn’t return your deposit or give you a list of repairs within 30 days, he must pay you double (Security Deposit + Interest x 2).
To get your deposit:
Sue the landlord in Small Claims Court, or
File a complaint
Security Deposit Investigator, Connecticut Department of Banking
260 Constitution Plaza, Hartford, CT 06103
, x8154

6. If Your Apartment Needs Repairs
Pay your rent on time even if your apartment needs repairs!
Landlords must fix certain problems like peeling paint, broken windows; plumbing, electrical, or heating systems that don't work; bedbugs or roaches; no smoke detector.
Ask your landlord to make repairs
If you ask in person, make sure there is a witness.
If you ask in writing, keep a copy of your letter.
If he doesn’t fix your apartment…
Call the Code Enforcement office in your town to file a complaint.
In Hartford, call (860) Call 211 for other towns.
Show the inspector everything that needs to be fixed, and write down the inspector's name.

7. Repairs-Going to Court
If the problems aren’t fixed within 21 days of your complaint, you can sue your landlord in court.
Starting a Lawsuit
Fill out 2 forms. Notice of Suit and Complaint. Staff at the Court Service Center or the court clerk can help.
File the forms with the Housing Court clerk.
Go to court on your hearing date and tell the judge what happened. Bring pictures, witnesses, and inspector reports.
Once you start your lawsuit, you will pay rent to the court – not to your landlord.

8. Paying Your Rent
Pay by check or money order by the 10th of each month (or 5th day of the week if you are renting weekly)
Write “Rent in full for the month of (or week) of___”.
Get a receipt!
If you don’t pay by the deadline, the landlord can charge a late fee and may start an eviction against you.
Do Not pay cash!
Do Not stop paying rent!

9. Reasons You Can Be Evicted
Not paying rent
You DO NOT have a lease and your landlord wants you out for any reason
You broke your lease or the law, i.e. sold drug there or damaged the apartment
Your landlord CANNOT evict you without reason OR raise your rent if you asked him to fix your apartment, complained to the housing code office or Fair Rent Commission, or joined a tenants’ union in the last 6 months.

10. Eviction-What is the Process?
You will get a Notice to Quit telling you to leave by a certain date. You DO NOT have to leave by that date!
You will get a Summons and Complaint from a Marshal.
Go to the Court Clerk’s Office & file an Appearance and Answer
Go to Court you and your landlord will meet with a Housing Mediator
*If no agreement is made with the Mediator you will go to trial and the Judge will decide your case. Make sure you bring all receipts, photos, witnesses, and anything else that will help your case!
ONLY A JUDGE CAN EVICT YOU!

11. If Your Landlord Was Foreclosed
You don't have to move out right away! You can stay until the end of your lease. If you don’t have a lease, the new owner has to give you 90 days written notice before starting an eviction.
Pay rent to the new owner with a check or money order.  If you can’t find the new owner, or he refuses your rent, keep a record of how you tried to pay and keep the rent money in a safe place.  If the new owner tries to evict you, show the court your records.
If you have section 8 or rent subsidy the new owner has to take over your lease. Talk to your worker.
Repairs and utilities – The new owner must provide the same repairs, maintenance and utilities as your old landlord. 
*The bank might offer you money to move out.  The offer must be the HIGHEST of two month's rent, two times the security deposit, or $2,000. If the offer is less than this, call the Attorney General's office at

12. When Your Landlord Can Enter Your Apartment
Your landlord can go into your apartment if he tells you in writing or in person, and he
Wants to go in a reasonable time of day, and/or
Wants to go in to do needed repairs or inspections, or to show your apartment to potential buyers, tenants or contractors/workers
Your landlord can go into your apartment without telling you in advance if there is
A real emergency, like water leaking into the apartment below yours
You abandoned the apartment and moved out

13. Discrimination
Whether you are renting or buying a home, you have the right to choose where you live. Landlords can’t discriminate because of your
Race, religion, national origin, color,
Family, if you have children, are married or single
Sexual orientation or gender identity, or
Disability
If you think you’ve been discriminated against, contact
Connecticut Fair Housing Center
221 Main Street, Suite 401, Hartford, CT 06106 or
CT Human Rights & Opportunities Fair Housing Unit
21 Grand St., Hartford, CT 06106
or x3403

14. Subsidized Housing
To receive notification of subsidized housing openings:
Call 211
Get on our CABHN list,