You have a new landlord. What does that mean for how much rent you pay?
For some tenants on Ellis St. in New Britain, a new building owner meant rent increases of hundreds of dollars a month. The people living in the 84 units saw those hikes, all while they still reported unaddressed maintenance issues like bad plumbing. The renovations that were actually done, like new paint, residents said, were purely cosmetic.
A new bill in the Connecticut legislature, House Bill 6892, would prevent those unjustified, dramatic hikes from happening anywhere else.
Under the proposal, a fair rent commission would consider a 10% rent increase from a landlord who has owned the property for less than a year as “excessive” unless there have been major renovations to at least two systems (like the foundation, plumbing, heating, electrical system, or air conditioning).
Families are already struggling with the rising cost of food, child care, and housing. Adding unexpected, jarring, unwarranted rent hikes will force people out of their homes in the communities they love. Renters deserve stability. They shouldn’t have to worry about finding a new place to live that’s within their budget, having their children switch schools, and the lasting impacts of being splintered from their neighborhoods, just because someone new bought their building and suddenly doubled or tripled their rent.
We need to do right by our communities. We deserve a fair rent system that respects the contributions renters make to our buildings and communities.
When a new landlord comes in, they need to be accountable to the community. If they just buy a building and do nothing to improve it, they shouldn’t be allowed to make huge rent increases that price out hard-working tenants.
Lawmakers must protect renters’ rights by passing H.B. 6892. Communities deserve to stay together. You can demand change by urging the Housing Committee to send the proposal to the General Assembly.
You can take action now. Tell your legislators to support H.B. 6892 to protect people from unjust rent hikes with new landlords.
