Senate Bill No. 335 aims to amend the regulations surrounding utility charges in residential rental agreements. The bill prohibits landlords from requiring tenants to pay for utilities unless a separate meter is used to measure the utilities delivered exclusively to the tenant's dwelling unit. This provision builds upon existing law, which already disallows rental agreements from imposing a heat or utilities surcharge if those costs are included in the rent. Additionally, any provisions in rental agreements that violate these rules will be deemed unenforceable.

The bill also makes several changes to the language in Section 47a-4 of the general statutes, including the replacement of gender-specific terms with gender-neutral language, such as changing "his" to "such tenant's." The effective date for these changes is set for October 1, 2026, and they will apply to rental agreements entered into or renewed on or after that date. Overall, the bill seeks to protect tenants from unfair utility charges and ensure clarity in rental agreements regarding utility costs.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
HSG Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 156: