(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter and chapter 831, for rental agreements entered into or renewed on or after January 1, 2011, any tenant who (1) is a victim of family violence, as defined in section 46b-38a, and (2) reasonably believes it is necessary to vacate the dwelling unit due to fear of imminent harm to the tenant or a dependent of the tenant because of family violence, may terminate his or her rental agreement with the landlord for the dwelling unit that the tenant occupies without penalty or liability for the remaining term of the rental agreement by giving written notice to the landlord at least thirty days prior to the date the tenant intends to terminate the rental agreement. Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter and chapter 831, for rental agreements entered into or renewed on or after January 1, 2014, any tenant who (A) is a victim of sexual assault under any provision of section 53a-70b of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 2019, or section 53a-70, 53a-70a, 53a-71, 53a-72a, 53a-72b or 53a-73a, or is the parent or guardian with physical custody of a dependent who is the victim of sexual assault under section 53a-70c, and (B) reasonably believes it is necessary to vacate the dwelling unit due to fear of imminent harm to the tenant or a dependent of the tenant because of such sexual assault, may terminate his or her rental agreement with the landlord for the dwelling unit that the tenant occupies without penalty or liability for the remaining term of the rental agreement by giving written notice to the landlord at least thirty days prior to the date the tenant intends to terminate the rental agreement.
(b) Such notice shall include: (1) A statement made under oath or affirmation that (A) the tenant or a dependent of the tenant is a victim of family violence or sexual assault, as the case may be; (B) the tenant intends to terminate the rental agreement and the date of such intended termination; and (C) the tenant has vacated the premises and removed all of his or her possessions and personal effects or, prior to the date of such termination, will vacate the premises and remove all of his or her possessions and personal effects and, if such possessions and personal effects have not been removed by the date of such termination, has abandoned such possessions and personal effects; and (2) (A) a copy of a police or court record detailing an act of family violence or sexual assault against the tenant or the tenant's dependent that is dated not more than ninety days prior to the date of the tenant's notice, or (B) a signed written statement from an employee of the Office of Victim Services within the Judicial Department or the Office of Victim Advocate detailing an act of family violence or sexual assault against the tenant or the tenant's dependent that is dated not more than thirty days prior to the date of the tenant's notice.
(c) The tenant's termination of his or her rental agreement with the landlord pursuant to this section shall not relieve (1) the tenant from liability to the landlord for any rent arrearage incurred prior to such termination of the rental agreement or from liability to the landlord for property damage caused by the tenant, or (2) any other tenant from liability to the landlord under the rental agreement.
(d) If the tenant terminates his or her rental agreement with the landlord pursuant to this section, any occupant without the right or privilege to occupy such dwelling unit shall vacate the premises prior to the date of such termination.
(e) If such tenant or occupant fails to vacate the premises as of the date of such termination, the landlord may bring an action pursuant to chapter 832.
(f) The landlord may bring an action in the housing session of the Superior Court for injunctive relief to prevent the termination of the rental agreement if the requirements set forth in this section for such termination have not been satisfied.
(P.A. 10-137, S. 2; 10-161, S. 5; P.A. 13-214, S. 4; P.A. 19-189, S. 12.)
History: P.A. 10-161 divided existing Subsec. (a) into Subsec. (a) and new Subsec. (b), amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “after December 31, 2010,” with “on or after January 1, 2011,” replacing provision requiring that tenant have a fear for tenant's or tenant's child's personal safety with provision requiring that tenant have a fear of imminent harm to tenant or tenant's dependent, and making technical changes, amended new Subsec. (b) by adding requirements that notice be made under oath or affirmation and that notice include statement re removal of tenant's possessions, revising provision re record or written statement required to substantiate family violence and making technical changes, redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (c) and amended same by adding provision specifying that termination of rental agreement does not relieve any other tenant from liability and making technical changes, added new Subsec. (d) re requirement to vacate premises, added new Subsec. (e) re failure to vacate premises, redesignated existing Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (f) and removed reference to Subsec. (a) therein; P.A. 13-214 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) to make provisions applicable to tenant who is a victim of sexual assault re rental agreements entered into or renewed on or after January 1, 2014; P.A. 19-189 amended Subsec. (a)(2)(A) by replacing “53a-70b” with “section 53a-70b of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 2019” and made a technical change.