LANDLORD / TENANT LIABILITY

In the 1998 legislative session, the Connecticut Legislature modified the rules for landlords and tenants. If you are a tenant and you intentionally damage the tangible property of the landlord without a reasonable ground to believe that you have a right to do so, and the damage exceeds One Thousand Five Hundred ($1,500.00) Dollars, you can be charged with a Class D felony. Conviction of a Class D felony can result in a minimum of one year and a maximum of five years imprisonment and/or a $5,000.00 fine. If the damaged property does not exceed $1,500.00 but exceeds $250.00, the tenant can be charged with a Class A misdemeanor, which comes with a maximum of one year in jail and/or a $1,000.00 fine. Tenants can also be charged with a Class B misdemeanor if they recklessly damage the landlord's property, without intending to do so. Conviction of a Class B misdemeanor can bring a six-month jail term.

Landlords should also be aware of the new laws. Connecticut now imposes a $20.00 per day penalty on landlords, up to a total of $4,000.00, who leases out an apartment or dwelling unit without a Certificate of Occupancy.

If you have any questions about landlord or tenant liability or any other legal matter, please give me a call at 746-6656 or e-mail me at rsmith@attorneyrichardsmith.com

Richard A. Smith, Esq.
Attorney at Law