Breaking a lease in Connecticut

A tenant who is a victim of family violence or sexual assault, and reasonably fears imminent harm, may end the lease without penalty by giving at least 30 days' written notice. If a tenant simply leaves, the landlord must make reasonable efforts to rerent the unit at a fair rent to reduce the loss.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-11e(a) Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-11a

• The notice must include a sworn statement and either a police or court record dated within 90 days, or a statement from the Office of Victim Services or the Office of the Victim Advocate dated within 30 days. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-11e(b)
• The tenant still owes rent due before the termination and any damage they caused, and other tenants on the lease stay liable. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-11e(c)
• If the landlord does not try to rerent, the lease is treated as ended by the landlord on the date the landlord learned of the abandonment. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-11a(b)
• A tenant may also end the lease for the landlord's uncured breach, a wilful loss of essential services or unlawful entry. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-12 Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-13 Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-18a See Tenant repair remedies on the Connecticut page

A tenancy without a fixed term is month to month, or week to week when rent is paid weekly. To end it, the landlord serves a notice to quit that gives at least three days before the quit date. This page did not find a longer notice period for ending a month-to-month tenancy, but not every section of the eviction chapter was read.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-3b Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-23(a)

• Staying after a lease ends is not by itself evidence of a new lease. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-3d
• A tenant 62 or older, or with a qualifying disability, in a building or complex of five or more units can be evicted only for listed good causes, such as nonpayment or a material violation. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-23c(a), (b) See Eviction process on the Connecticut page