A landlord shall not maintain an action or proceeding against a tenant to recover possession of a dwelling unit, demand an increase in rent from the tenant, or decrease the services to which the tenant has been entitled within six months after:

1. (1) The tenant has in good faith attempted to remedy by any lawful means, including contacting officials of the state or of any town, city or borough or public agency or filing a complaint with a fair rent commission, any condition constituting a violation of any provisions of chapter 368o, or of chapter 412, or of any other state statute or regulation, or of the housing and health ordinances of the municipality wherein the premises which are the subject of the complaint lie;
2. (2) any municipal agency or official has filed a notice, complaint or order regarding such a violation;
3. (3) the tenant has in good faith requested the landlord to make repairs;
4. (4) the tenant has in good faith instituted an action under subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of section 47a-14h; or
5. (5) the tenant has organized or become a member of a tenants' union.

See Sec. 7-148f re penalty for violation of order of rent reduction or rent suspension.

See Sec. 47a-33 re defense that action is retaliatory.

(1971, P.A. 852, S. 1–4; 1972, P.A. 160, S. 5; 186, S. 13; P.A. 76-95, S. 19, 27; 76-435, S. 75, 82; P.A. 79-571, S. 17; P.A. 83-510, S. 6, 9.)

History: 1972 acts included filing complaint with fair rent commission as remedy in Subsec. (a)(1) and added reference to violations of Ch. 412 and other statutes and regulations; P.A. 76-95 added Subsec. (a)(4) forbidding landlord's action to recover dwelling unit, increase rent or decrease services within six months after tenant organizes or becomes a member of a tenant's union; P.A. 76-435 revised effective date section of P.A. 76-95; Sec. 19-375a transferred to Sec. 47a-20 in 1977; P.A. 79-571 rephrased provisions and deleted former Subsecs. (b) to (d), reincorporated in statutes as Sec. 47a-20a by the same act; P.A. 83-510 inserted new Subsec. (a)(4) to include an action brought in good faith by a tenant under Sec. 47a-14h(a) to (i).