Connecticut Standard Residential Lease Agreement

A Connecticut standard residential lease agreement outlines the terms and conditions for renting a residential property in the state, serving as a written record of the rental arrangement.

Certain laws and regulations govern residential leases, specifying the rights and obligations of both landlords and tenants involved in the leasing of a house, apartment, condominium, or any other dwelling unit. A standard agreement details the rental terms, including lease duration, payment details, additional costs, property use terms, lease violations, and eviction procedures.

• Lease Length Considerations
• Required Disclosures
• Security Deposit
• Rent Payment
• Landlord Resources
• Related Forms

Download: PDF or MS Word.

Lease Length Considerations

• The maximum length is one year. However, leases can be longer if the term is fixed or agreed upon beforehand by both the tenant and the landlord.
• Leases exceeding one year must be in writing, executed, attested, acknowledged, and recorded in the same manner as a deed of land. This is to make them effectual against persons other than the lessor and lessee and their respective heirs, successors, administrators, and executors. [1]
• Leases can automatically renew. Fixed-term leases are expected to end on the specified date without any required notice, but most leases can be renewed if the tenant decides to stay on the rental property.
• If a rental agreement does not settle a definite term, the tenancy defaults to a month-to-month arrangement. However, if the tenant pays weekly rent, then the tenancy defaults to a week-to-week arrangement. [2]

Required Disclosures

• Sprinkler disclosure.
• Disclosure of lead-based hazards.
• Bed bug addendum.
• Condominium interest community disclosure.
• Landlord’s personal information.

For more details on the necessary disclosures and state laws, visit our Connecticut lease agreement page.

Security Deposit

• Maximum Amount ($): Two months’ rent. For tenants aged 62 and older, this limit is reduced to one month’s rent. [3]
• Returning to Tenant: Within 30 days after the tenancy ends, 15 days after receiving a forwarding address.

Rent Payment

• Grace Period: There is a nine-day grace period for rent payments. For tenants renting on a week-to-week basis, there is a four-day grace period. [4]
• Maximum Late Fee: Up to $5 per day or 5% of the late payment.
• NSF Fee: The maximum fee for a bounced check is $20. [5]

Landlord Resources

• Landlord-Tenant Laws – General Statutes of Connecticut Chapter 830.
• Handbook – Rights and Responsibilities of Landlords and Tenants in Connecticut.