Substitute House Bill No. 6889 seeks to enhance tenant protections in eviction proceedings by amending existing laws. The bill repeals Section 47a-23c and expands the definition of "protected tenants" to include individuals aged sixty-two or older, those with physical or mental disabilities, and tenants who have lived in a dwelling for at least thirteen months. It restricts landlords from initiating eviction proceedings against these protected tenants except for specific reasons, such as nonpayment of rent or significant violations of rental agreements. Additionally, the bill introduces stricter requirements for landlords wishing to evict tenants for personal use of the dwelling and mandates that landlords provide written notice of tenant rights, available in multiple languages by 2028.

Furthermore, the bill extends eviction and rent increase protections to all tenants residing in specified housing types for a minimum of thirteen months, prohibiting evictions based solely on lease expiration. It maintains existing grounds for eviction, such as nonpayment of rent, while ensuring that rent increases are fair and equitable. The bill also establishes fair rent commissions in municipalities with populations of at least 25,000 to regulate excessive rental charges and protect tenants from retaliation. Additionally, it clarifies the definition of a "converted unit" to improve guidelines for rental property classification. The effective date for the bill is set for October 1, 2025, with a revised notice of tenant rights required by December 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
HSG Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 262: