The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 6949, seeks to amend Section 47a-16 of the general statutes regarding a landlord's ability to enter a tenant's dwelling unit. The bill stipulates that a tenant cannot unreasonably withhold consent for a landlord to enter the unit for specific purposes, such as inspections, repairs, or showing the unit to prospective buyers. Notably, the bill defines "unreasonably withhold consent" to include situations where a tenant denies access for six or more consecutive days.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that landlords may enter without tenant consent in emergencies and must provide reasonable notice of their intent to enter, using the term "the landlord's" instead of "his" to promote gender neutrality. The legislation also maintains that landlords cannot abuse their right of entry or use it to harass tenants. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and aims to balance the rights of landlords and tenants while ensuring that landlords can access their properties when necessary.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: