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Fair Rent Commission coordinator: staff helped nearly 400 residents this year; hearing scheduled for September
Summary
Coordinator Carlos Duque told commissioners he assisted nearly 400 residents in the last 12 months with eviction paperwork, security deposit issues and tenant outreach, and outlined plans for a September hearing and an August 6 working dinner with Connecticut legal presenters.
Carlos Duque, coordinator for the Norwalk City Fair Rent Commission, told commissioners at the July 9 meeting that staff helped close to 400 residents over the past 12 months with eviction-related inquiries, rent increases, repair issues and security-deposit disputes.
Duque said much of the assistance involved helping tenants complete court forms such as the appearance and response to complaint forms, and preparing printable PDFs to make it easier for residents to present documents in housing court. He told the commission he plans quarterly outreach presentations, including a Spanish-language session, and said the commission will share an invitation to a state Fair Rent Commission Network meeting on July 24 in New Haven.
Duque described plans for a September hearing (staff recommended holding a regular meeting the week before the hearing to manage scheduling) and for a working dinner on Aug. 6 at a venue identified as Odins inside Oak Hills (the meeting will include a presentation by two lawyers from "Connecticut Legal Housing"). He said he will finalize arrangements and send a follow-up email to commissioners with details.
Duque also reminded tenants to document unit condition on move-in and move-out with photos and video so they can better support security-deposit claims in court. He noted that some tenants report excessive late fees; Duque stated the maximum late fee he described is $50 based on changes he noted, and that he would continue outreach to educate tenants about local and state rules.
Ending: Duque said he will coordinate the hearing schedule and circulate details about the Aug. 6 dinner and the state network meeting. Commissioners thanked him for the outreach work.
