Landlord Habitability Duties

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-7

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-7 sets Connecticut's statewide habitability standard, requiring a landlord to: comply with Chapter 368o and all applicable building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety; make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to keep the premises fit and habitable; keep all common areas clean and safe; maintain in good and safe working order all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating and other facilities, appliances and elevators supplied or required to be supplied; provide and maintain trash receptacles and arrange for waste removal; and supply running water, reasonable amounts of hot water at all times and reasonable heat (subject to stated exceptions where heat/hot water is within the tenant's exclusive control or supplied by a direct utility connection). Where a municipal ordinance or building/fire code imposes a greater duty, it takes precedence. A landlord and tenant may agree in writing to shift specified duties (and, for single-family residences, the duties in subdivisions (5) and (6)) to the tenant only if entered into in good faith and not to evade the landlord's obligations; such agreements may not be used to cure noncompliance with the code-compliance and fit-and-habitable duties.