COVID-19 FAQs for Renters: Evictions, Lockouts, & Leases
Updates as of February 9, 2021.
- Governor Lamont extended Connecticut’s temporary ban on most new eviction cases until May 19, 2021. This means that your landlord cannot start a new eviction case against you until May 20, 2021, with some important exceptions.
- There are a few exceptions to the state’s temporary ban on evictions. Landlords can still file an eviction if:
- You owe 6 or more months’ worth of rent that was due on or after March 1, 2020;
- You owe any rent that was due on or before February 29, 2020;
- You have done something that is a Serious Nuisance, such as physically harming another tenant or the landlord, or
- Your lease has ended and the landlord wants to use the property as their main home.
- This means that your landlord cannot serve papers to start a new eviction case for nonpayment of rent until May 20, 2021, unless you owe 6 or more months’ worth of rent that was due on or after March 1, 2020 or you owe ANY rent that was due on or before February 29, 2020. This means your landlord is NOT permitted to send you a Notice to Quit or start an eviction (summary process) case against you in housing court until May 20, 2021.
- A Notice to Quit is a paper that that tells you to leave by the date given on the notice and the reason for the eviction. You do not have to leave by this date but if you stay past this date, the landlord can start an eviction case against you in court.
- Tenants still need to pay rent. If you cannot pay full rent, to be protected by the state ban on evictions, you must keep the total amount of rent you owe below 6 months of rent. Be sure to keep a record of any payments you make. If you pay in cash, be sure to ask the landlord for a receipt.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also issued a temporary freeze on evictions nationwide from September 4 – June 30, 2021. This means your landlord cannot evict you for not paying rent or other charges such as late fees, if you meet the requirements listed below. A summary of the CDC ban on evictions and it’s requirements are available here.
- This freeze on eviction is not automatic. Each adult in your household must read and sign a copy of this declaration and give it your landlord. Please be sure to keep a copy of the declaration you give to your landlord.
- You can also use this online CDC Declaration generator in English, Spanish, Portuguese, or Somali to (1) sign the Declaration form electronically, and (2) either email it to yourself and your landlord or download and print it out.
- You must meet ALL the requirements below to use the Declaration:
- Your total income for 2020-21 will be less than $99,000/year (or $198,000/year for 2 adults), you received a stimulus check, or you did not have to pay income tax in 2020;
- You cannot pay your full rent because you lost income or you have very high medical bills;
- You or the people in your household will become homeless or forced to live in crowded conditions in someone else’s home if you are evicted;
- You promise to pay as much of your rent as possible on time; and
- You have made your best effort to apply for any available governmental rent and housing assistance. (Note: Call 211 to find out if there is any rent or housing assistance available).
- You can find more information about the CDC eviction moratorium here.
- If your landlord already filed an eviction case against you in court, do not ignore any eviction papers or hearing notices you get from the court–you should follow the instructions for responding or attending a hearing.
- You can also find more information about how to deal with evictions or lockouts here.
- If your landlord sends you a Notice to Quit or tells you have to move out, and you have questions, you can call Statewide Legal Services at (800) 453-3320.
- Your landlord is not permitted to send you a Notice to Quit or start an eviction (summary process) case against you in housing court until May 20, 2021, with some exceptions. For exceptions to this ban on evictions, please see Question 1 above.
- If permitted to start a new eviction case, there are several steps a landlord must take to get the court’s permission to have a marshal evict you.
- The landlord must first serve a Notice to Quit stating reason for eviction.
- You do not have to leave by the date listed on the Notice to Quit.
- If you don’t leave by the date on the Notice to Quit, the landlord must start an eviction court case called Summary Process and the court must decide the outcome of the eviction case.
- Your landlord is not allowed to take your things, lock you out, or cut off utilities, even if you owe rent, until they win their eviction case in court. Only a state marshal with a court order called an Execution may physically remove a tenant.
- A Notice to Quit is a paper that that tells you to leave by the date given on the notice. You do not have to leave by this date but if you stay past this date, the landlord can start an eviction case against you in court.
- If you have questions about how to respond to an eviction notice, you should seek legal advice immediately. You can call Statewide Legal Services at (800) 453-3320 and find more information about how to deal with evictions or lockouts here.
- If you have an eviction case in court now, you should sign up for email alerts about your case. The court should also mail you a notice if something happens in your case. You can also find court contact information and status updates at jud.ct.gov. See Question 3 below for more information.
- If you have an eviction case in court now, you should sign up for email alerts about your case. If you have filed an appearance, the court should also mail you a notice if something happens in your case.
- If you already have a judgment entered against you in court, you may be protected by the national ban on evictions issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The national ban on evictions does not automatically apply to all tenants. See Question 1 above for details.
- If your landlord already filed an eviction case against you in court, do not ignore any eviction papers or hearing notices you get from the court. You should follow the instructions for responding or attending a hearing.
- You can also find court contact information and status updates at jud.ct.gov.
- It is illegal for your landlord to change your locks or lock you out.
- Your landlord is not allowed to take your things or remove you, even if you owe rent. They must start an eviction case in court, win that case, and receive permission from the court to have a state marshal physically remove you using a court order called the Execution.
- If your landlord changes your locks or physically stops your from entering your home, you have the right to immediately call the police and ask the police to order your landlord to let you back into your apartment. Note: The police may ask for proof that it is your apartment, like a rent receipt, bank statement, or utility bill with your name and address on it.
- You should also call Statewide Legal Services at (800) 453-3320 for legal help dealing with the lockout. You can find more information on lockouts here. The court is open to hear unlawful lockout cases.
- You can ask your landlord to renew your lease and continue to pay rent. You should put in writing any agreement your landlord makes with you. You can use a letter or an e-mail to your landlord to document your agreement. It is important to keep a copy of any letters or messages exchanged.
- If your landlord refuses to renew your lease and you are able to move WITHOUT endangering your health or causing harm to other people, you can move out when your lease expires.
- If your landlord refuses to renew your lease and you are NOT ABLE to find alternative safe, healthy, and permanent housing at this time, you do not need to move immediately. The Governor’s orders prevent the landlord from sending you a Notice to Quit or beginning a new eviction process against you in court until May 20, 2021, unless one of the exceptions to the moratorium apply. Please see Questions 1 and 2 above for more details.
- Everyone in Connecticut should follow the Governor’s Executive Order for all Connecticut residents to “Stay Safe, Stay Home.” This means all members of each household should not interact with individuals outside of the household unless for essential needs such as food, medicine, medical care or exercise and when doing so to maintain a physical distance of more than 6 feet from others.
- A landlord can advise renters to self-quarantine for 14 days if they are coming from areas with widespread community transmission or if they’ve had contact with someone who tested positive for or experienced symptoms of COVID-19.
- Guidance on how to self-quarantine can be found at: https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus. For additional tips from the CDC on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html.
- If you pay rent in cash, you can still ask your landlord to provide a written, signed notice (a paper receipt or e-mail) acknowledging they received the rent payment, the amount of the payment, and date of the payment. NOTE: A money order is not a receipt that your landlord has received your rent.
- You can also send a written note to your landlord with your payment, saying you are sending them the rent payment, with the amount of rent and the payment date written on the note
- Be sure to keep a copy of any written communication between you and your landlord.
- If you make any alternate rent payment arrangements with your landlord during the COVID-19 health emergency, you should put the new agreement in writing.
- If your landlord makes a verbal agreement with you, be sure to write them a letter confirming the agreement and keep a copy of the letter.
- When you write a letter to your landlord, clearly say what you both agreed to, date the letter, and include details such as the amount of each installment and if there will be any late fees charged for paying in installments.
- Be sure to keep a copy of any written communication between you and your landlord.