General Assembly Raised Bill No. 333 seeks to clarify the definitions and regulations surrounding "advance rental payments" and security deposits in landlord-tenant relationships in Connecticut. The bill introduces new legal language defining "advance rental payment" as any rent payment made before it is due, excluding security deposits. It also modifies existing definitions to allow security deposits to encompass various initial fees, such as those for repairs or cleaning, while repealing outdated definitions. Additionally, the bill prohibits landlords from charging fees for processing rental applications, except for security deposits or advance rental payments, and allows tenants with rental agreements of six months or longer to make advance rental payments, with provisions for returning unearned amounts.

Moreover, the bill enhances tenant rights in situations where landlords fail to provide essential services like heat and electricity. It permits tenants to deduct costs for these services from their rent, seek alternative housing if the landlord does not comply within 48 hours, or terminate the rental agreement if the noncompliance is willful. In such cases, landlords must return all security and advance rental payments with interest. The bill also clarifies the definitions of "tenant" and "landlord" to include mobile home park residents and owners, and it establishes that tenant rights are contingent upon providing reasonable notice to landlords. The amendments are set to take effect on October 1, 2026.

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