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    Connecticut Residential Lease Agreement

    Connecticut caps most security deposits at 2 months' rent (1 exception applies), and requires its return within 21 days after the lease ends.

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    Connecticut lease rules at a glance

    Key Connecticut rules for a residential lease, with the statute behind each
    RuleWhat the law says
    Security deposit cap2 months' rent (with exceptions)Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(b)
    Deposit return deadline21 days after the lease endsConn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2), P.A. 23-207, § 38 (30 → 21 days, eff. Oct. 1, 2023)
    Late feesLesser of (1) $5 per day up to $50, or (2) 5% of the delinquent rent (5% of the tenant's share if rent is partly paid by a government or charity); one late charge per late payment · grace period: 9 daysConn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-15a(b), P.A. 23-207, § 8 (eff. Oct. 1, 2023), Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-15a(a), (b)
    Landlord entry noticeReasonable written or oral notice of intent to enter, entry only at reasonable times; no notice in an emergencyConn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-16
    Ending a month-to-month leaseNo state ruleConn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-23(a), Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-3b
    Rent increase notice45 days (Leases of one month or less: one full lease term)Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-4e, P.A. 24-143, § 17
    Rent controlNo statewide law; cities may regulateConn. Gen. Stat. § 7-148b (2026 Supplement), Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-148c, Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-148d
    Eviction notice for unpaid rent3 days (Notice to quit for nonpayment (served after the 9-day grace period))Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-15a(a) (2026 Supplement), Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-23(a)-(d) (2026 Supplement), Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-75(f)(2)

    Connecticut lease disclosures checklist

    Connecticut leases given on or after April 1, 2026 must open with the state's standardized rental terms summary, and landlords must name the manager and the agent for notices, disclose known bed bug infestations, state sprinkler status where a building needs one, offer a move-in walk-through, and give the federal lead notice for pre-1978 housing (Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-7d(d), 47a-6, 47a-7a(c), 47a-3f, 47a-7c; 40 CFR 745.107). (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-7d (2026 Supplement), Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-3e, 47a-3f, 47a-6, 47a-7a, 47a-7c, 40 CFR 745.107)

    • Lead-based paint disclosure, lead warning statement and EPA pamphlet — Housing built before 1978 (unless exempt under 40 CFR 745.101)42 U.S.C. § 4852d; 40 CFR Part 745 Subpart F (§ 745.107)
    • Standardized rental terms summary form (Department of Housing), completed, as the first page of the lease — Every written rental agreement provided on or after April 1, 2026Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-7d(c)-(d)
    • Name and address of the person authorized to manage the premises and of the person authorized to receive notices and service of process — In writing on or before the start of the tenancy; keep currentConn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-6(a)
    • Whether the unit, or any contiguous unit the landlord owns or leases, is currently infested with bed bugs — Before renting the unitConn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-7a(c)
    • Whether the building has an operative fire sprinkler system and, if so, its last maintenance and inspection date, in 12-point boldface — In the rental agreement, for buildings required to have a sprinkler systemConn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-3f
    • Written notice that the unit is in a common interest community — Before signing, when the declarant or successor declarant is the landlordConn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-3e
    • Offer of a pre-occupancy walk-through using the Department of Housing checklist — After signing and before move-in (rental agreements on or after Jan. 1, 2024)Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-7c(a)

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    Before you sign in Connecticut

    Deposit cap exceptions in Connecticut
    Two months' rent; one month's rent for tenants 62 or older Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(b)
    • Tenant is 62 or older (a tenant who turns 62 after paying more can request a refund of the excess over one month): up to 1 month's rent
    If a deposit is withheld wrongly
    A landlord who misses the return or itemization rules owes the tenant twice the security deposit, or the greater of $10 or twice the interest if only interest was withheld (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2), (k)). (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2), (j), (k), P.A. 26-79, § 3 (Banking Commissioner civil penalties, eff. Oct. 1, 2026))
    • In effect since .
    Deductions from the deposit
    A landlord who deducts damages must send a written statement itemizing the nature and amount of the damages with the balance of the deposit (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2)). (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2))
    Interest on the deposit
    Landlords must pay interest on security deposits at no less than the yearly deposit index (0.49% for 2026), paid or credited each tenancy anniversary and with the deposit at move-out (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(i)). (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(h), (i), CT Department of Banking, Deposit Index and Interest Rates (2026: 0.49%))
    Rent control and increases
    Connecticut caps no rents statewide, but local fair rent commissions, required in towns of 15,000 or more residents by Jan. 1, 2028, can hear complaints and limit an excessive rent or increase to a fair amount (Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 7-148b(b)-(c), 7-148d(a)). (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-148b (2026 Supplement), Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-148c, Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-148d)

    No statewide rent cap. Every municipality of 15,000 or more must create or join a fair rent commission by Jan. 1, 2028 (smaller towns may); after a hearing a commission can limit a rent or proposed increase it finds so excessive as to be harsh and unconscionable, judged on factors such as comparable rents, condition, taxes and the frequency of increases (Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 7-148b to 7-148d).

    • In effect since .
    • Before : Towns, cities and boroughs of 25,000 or more had to create a fair rent commission by July 1, 2023 (P.A. 22-30).
    If rent goes unpaid
    If rent is still unpaid nine days after it was due (four days for a weekly tenancy), the landlord may have a state marshal serve a notice to quit that gives at least three full days to leave, with the Right to Counsel notice attached (Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-15a(a), 47a-23(a), 47a-75(f)(2)). (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-15a(a) (2026 Supplement), Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-23(a)-(d) (2026 Supplement), Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-75(f)(2))

    Connecticut lease FAQs

    How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Connecticut?

    Landlords may not demand a security deposit above two months' rent, or above one month's rent from a tenant aged 62 or older (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(b)).

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

    Landlords must return the deposit plus accrued interest, or the balance with an itemized statement of damages, within 21 days after the tenancy ends or 15 days after receiving the tenant's written forwarding address, whichever is later (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2)).

    Is there a limit on late fees in Connecticut?

    A late fee must be in a written lease and may not exceed the lesser of $5 per day up to $50 or 5% of the late rent, charged only once per late payment (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-15a(b)). A late fee may be charged only on rent paid after the 9-day grace period (4 days for week-to-week tenancies), plus 5 more days in a month when the landlord's online payment system prevents on-time payment (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-15a) (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-15a(a), (b)).

    How much notice must a Connecticut landlord give before entering a rental?

    A Connecticut landlord must give reasonable written or oral notice before entering and may come only at reasonable times, except in an emergency (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-16(c)).

    How much notice ends a month-to-month tenancy in Connecticut?

    No Connecticut statute sets how much notice a tenant must give to end a month-to-month tenancy, so follow the lease; a landlord ends one by having a marshal serve a notice to quit for lapse of time that gives at least three full days and runs to the end of the rental month (Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-3b, 47a-23(a)) (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-23(a)).

    What disclosures does a Connecticut lease need?

    Connecticut leases given on or after April 1, 2026 must open with the state's standardized rental terms summary, and landlords must name the manager and the agent for notices, disclose known bed bug infestations, state sprinkler status where a building needs one, offer a move-in walk-through, and give the federal lead notice for pre-1978 housing (Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-7d(d), 47a-6, 47a-7a(c), 47a-3f, 47a-7c; 40 CFR 745.107) (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-7d (2026 Supplement)). The list covers Lead-based paint disclosure, lead warning statement and EPA pamphlet, Standardized rental terms summary form (Department of Housing), completed, as the first page of the lease, Name and address of the person authorized to manage the premises and of the person authorized to receive notices and service of process, Whether the unit, or any contiguous unit the landlord owns or leases, is currently infested with bed bugs, Whether the building has an operative fire sprinkler system and, if so, its last maintenance and inspection date, in 12-point boldface, Written notice that the unit is in a common interest community and Offer of a pre-occupancy walk-through using the Department of Housing checklist.

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