A proposed bill is set to redefine eviction protocols, marking a potential shift in landlord-tenant dynamics for over 400,000 renter households in Connecticut.
Approved by the joint Housing Committee on February 29, the bill, SB 143, aims to bolster protections for renters, prohibiting landlords from evicting tenants without “just cause.”
Amidst rising concerns over housing stability and affordability in Connecticut, SB 143 comes as a legislative effort met with nearly equal support and opposition, extending eviction protections to nearly all renters, a safeguard previously limited to elderly and disabled tenants in larger housing complexes.
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Specifically, the bill introduced by Democratic Representatives David Michel and Gary A. Winfield makes it applicable to tenants residing in buildings or complexes with five or more dwelling units, as well as those living in mobile manufactured home parks, regardless of their age or disability status.
Under the bill, landlords will be restricted from initiating eviction proceedings except for a list of reasons, which include nonpayment of rent and material noncompliance that affects the health and safety of other tenants or the premises’ condition.
Further, the bill takes steps to ensure fairness in rent increases, stating that any hike must be just and equitable based on established criteria. Tenants would also have the right to challenge increases in rent.
While SB 143 would represent a shift towards reinforcing tenant protections within Connecticut’s housing landscape, the debate surrounding it has divided Connecticut’s communities, with a nearly even split between supporters and opponents, totaling over 400 residents, according to the Connecticut General Assembly.
Supporters of the bill, from various sectors including non-profit leaders and housing advocates, argued in testimonies sent to the Connecticut General Assembly that SB 143 is essential for enhancing tenant protections and preventing unjust evictions.
Maryam Elahi, President & CEO of the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, championed the bill as crucial for safeguarding vulnerable populations, especially children, from the traumatic impacts of eviction. David Rich, CEO of The Housing Collective, advocated for the extension of the protections to all renters, highlighting the bill as a measure against housing scarcity and instability.
Sarah Fox, CEO of the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, underscored the bill’s potential to reduce “arbitrary” evictions and protect against housing discrimination.
Opponents, including landlords and housing industry professionals, raised concerns about the bill’s implications for housing management and development. Lana Bettera, CEO of BPM Insights, LLC, criticized SB 143 for imposing “severe limitations” on housing providers, arguing it undermines property rights and the ability to maintain safe, well-managed communities.
Jim Perras, CEO of the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Connecticut, warned of negative impacts on housing production, suggesting the bill could worsen the housing crisis by discouraging investment and development.
Landlord Alex Rivera provided a personal perspective, asserting that the bill unfairly targets landlords and overlooks the broader issues contributing to housing challenges.
Some 471,821 renter households were in Connecticut as of last year, according to the 2023 Out of Reach report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition, with a significant number struggling to find affordable housing.
The overall affordability crisis, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic fallout, according to the report, has placed unprecedented pressures on renters, making the potential stability offered by SB 143 valuable.
Currently, the bill is in the “introduced” stage of the Connecticut legislative process. It would need to be passed by the Senate and the House, and then signed by Governor Ned Lamont before it would be law. Representatives Michel and Winfield aim to have it take effect by October 1 of this year.
Newsweek has reached out to both representatives for comment by email on Thursday morning.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.