An Act Prohibiting A Landlord From Requiring A Security Deposit In Excess Of One Month's Rent From Any Tenant.
Summary
HB 6891 would amend Connecticut’s landlord-tenant security deposit law to cap security deposits at one month’s rent for all tenants, replacing the current rule that generally allows up to two months’ rent for tenants under age 62 and one month’s rent for tenants age 62 or older. The bill also removes the age-based distinction from the statute and keeps the existing definition of security deposit and related landlord-tenant terms in section 47a-21.
The bill applies prospectively to rental agreements entered into on or after July 1, 2025. It also requires a landlord who already holds a security deposit above one month’s rent from a tenant to return the excess upon the tenant’s request, but the legislative statement notes the effective-date language was adjusted to avoid a potential impairment-of-contract issue. In practical terms, the measure would limit how much upfront cash landlords can require from new tenants and would reduce the maximum deposit burden for many renters.
Impact
The bill would amend Connecticut General Statutes section 47a-21, changing the maximum permissible residential security deposit from two months’ rent to one month’s rent for most tenants and eliminating the separate older-tenant provision. It would affect landlords, tenants, and property managers in the residential rental market, especially for leases executed on or after July 1, 2025. The bill preserves the existing framework for handling security deposits while narrowing the amount that may be demanded and requiring refunds of excess amounts in certain existing cases upon request.
Sentiment
The committee vote suggests mixed but generally favorable sentiment toward the bill, with the measure receiving a joint favorable substitute recommendation by a 12-6 vote. A subsequent motion failed 5-12, indicating some disagreement over the proposal or its details. No committee transcript was provided, so the available record shows support sufficient to advance the bill, but not broad consensus.
Contention
The main point of contention appears to be the reduction of the allowable security deposit from two months’ rent to one month’s rent for all tenants, which would shift financial risk and cash-flow considerations away from renters and toward landlords. The age-based structure in current law is also being removed, which may have prompted debate about whether older tenants should continue to receive special treatment or whether all tenants should be treated the same. The effective-date language was specifically revised to address a potential contract-impairment issue, suggesting legal concerns about applying the change to existing rental agreements.