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Norwalk Fair Rent Commission accepts multiple cases, schedules special hearing for contested Woodward Avenue rent increase
Summary
At its April meeting the Norwalk Fair Rent Commission voted to accept several tenant-landlord complaints for further review, closed a small number when tenants moved out, and directed staff to schedule a special hearing in May for a contested Woodward Avenue rent increase from $985 to $2,178.
The Norwalk Fair Rent Commission reviewed a docket of landlord-tenant complaints at its April meeting and voted to accept most of the new cases for investigation or hearing while closing a few where tenants had vacated.
Attorney Russell Liskov told the panel that case 1877-2653-55, involving a proposed rent increase from $985 to $2,178 for a two-bedroom unit on Woodward Avenue, is unlikely to settle and will require a special hearing in May because "there are probably 200 emails of record back and forth" between the parties. The commission voted to accept the case and asked staff to set a separate hearing date to avoid an overly long regular meeting.
The commission closed case 1875-2534 (Bartlett Avenue, apartment 1) after staff reported the tenant had vacated and failed to return a withdrawal, and closed case 1876-251 (Glover Avenue apartment 222) after the parties filed a new lease and a withdrawal. Several other complaints were accepted for further review, including matters at Bartlett Avenue (1881-2622), Bets Place (1878-2611), Nordin Place (1880-268), West Avenue (multiple PH/unit cases) and Richards Avenue (1885-2696).
Members emphasized that acceptance of a case does not constitute a finding on the merits. Liskov and staff noted that tenants who stop responding can lead to closures for failure to cooperate; in one instance staff said they would attempt phone, text, email and certified mail before closing a file for nonresponse.
The commission generally approved the motions by voice vote. Where staff recommended negotiation (for example, Richards Avenue, where the landlord sought a backdated increase from $2,360 to $2,485), commissioners asked staff to pursue settlement where feasible and to bring contested matters to hearing when they do not resolve.
The panel adjourned at 8:20 p.m. and confirmed that the special hearing for the Woodward Avenue matter will be scheduled separately next month.
