CT HB05397

Changes the timeframe for tenants to secure substitute housing from "two business days" to "forty-eight hours" when a landlord fails to provide essential services (heat, running water, hot water, electricity, gas, or other essential services).

Allows tenants to immediately secure substitute housing if the same essential service breach recurs within six months, rather than waiting for the forty-eight hour period.

Maintains tenant remedies allowing them to either deduct the cost of procuring essential services from rent, secure substitute housing, or terminate the lease and recover up to two months' rent or double actual damages (whichever is greater) for willful failures.

Applies effective October 1, 2016, amending Connecticut General Statutes Section 47a-13(a).