CT housing advocates push tenant protections after major law
Housing advocates plan to push CT lawmakers for tenant protections and other measures during the upcoming session, building on momentum from last year's major housing law.
Several advocacy groups said they want the General Assembly to revisit proposals prohibiting landlords from evicting tenants without “just cause” — one of the most contentious ideas debated at the Capitol in recent years.
Under current law, tenants who are at least 62 years old or live with disabilities already have protection from “no-fault eviction.” The fight centers on whether to extend that protection to all tenants who have lived in their buildings for at least a year.
“Maybe there’s some perception of fatigue in the legislature” when it comes to housing, said Pete Harrison, director of Connecticut programs at the Regional Plan Association. “I actually kind of think the opposite because I think quite a bit of leadership in the legislature, and even the governor particularly, are really motivated.”
Lawmakers passed the housing legislation in November during a special session after Lamont vetoed an earlier version. The final bill followed months of negotiations between lawmakers, municipal officials and advocacy groups.
Supporters of expanded tenant protections say landlords use no-fault evictions to clear buildings so they can raise rents or retaliate against tenants who file complaints. Property owners counter that the restrictions would limit their ability to manage their buildings.
While advocates don’t expect another sweeping housing law this year, they believe the General Assembly could pass narrower measures addressing the state’s housing shortage and landlord-tenant issues.
Other proposals likely to surface include expanded accessory dwelling unit regulations, “Yes in God’s Backyard” legislation encouraging religious institutions to develop housing, and updates to fair housing law.
The 13-week legislative session begins in February, with housing expected to remain a priority for Democratic leadership in Hartford. Fairfield County communities along the Metro-North corridor have faced particular pressure to increase housing production under state mandates.