Substitute House Bill No. 6949 aims to clarify and define the conditions under which a landlord may enter a tenant's dwelling unit. The bill specifies that a tenant is considered to be "unreasonably withholding consent" if they do not allow the landlord to enter for necessary reasons, such as inspections or repairs, for a period of fourteen consecutive days. Additionally, the bill maintains that landlords must provide reasonable notice of their intent to enter and may only do so at reasonable times, except in emergencies. The language also emphasizes that landlords cannot abuse their right of entry or use it to harass tenants.

The bill repeals the existing Section 47a-16 and replaces it with new provisions that include the definition of "unreasonably withholding consent" and clarifies the landlord's obligations regarding notice and entry. It also retains the existing conditions under which a landlord may enter without tenant consent, such as emergencies or court orders. The effective date for these changes is set for July 1, 2025. Overall, the bill is not expected to have any fiscal impact on the state or municipalities.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
HSG Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 234: