Connecticut Has No Rent Control, But Local Fair Rent Commissions Curb Excessive Increases

Connecticut does not impose a statewide percentage limit on rent increases, and it has no traditional rent control freezing or capping rents. Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-148b, a municipality may create a fair rent commission to "make studies and investigations, conduct hearings and receive complaints relative to rental charges on housing accommodations" in order to "control and eliminate excessive rental charges." Under § 7-148d, if a commission finds a rent so excessive, judged by the criteria in § 7-148c, as to be "harsh and unconscionable," it may order the rent reduced to a fair and equitable level, phase in an increase, or delay one until code violations are fixed. Public Act 22-30 (2022) requires every town with more than 25,000 residents to establish such a commission.

There is no fine schedule for ordinary increases. A fair rent commission acting under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-148b et seq. may issue binding orders reducing an unconscionable rent, phasing in an increase, or staying it pending repairs; a landlord who defies a commission order may be subject to enforcement and penalties under the local ordinance.