Middletown fair-rent board finds landlords notice to quit retaliatory, orders acceptance of $1,800 rent

The Middletown Fair Rent Commission on Wednesday found that a landlords notice to quit, issued after tenants filed a fair-rent complaint, amounted to retaliation and ordered the landlord to cease enforcement and accept the tenants last agreed-upon rent of $1,800 while the complaint is pending.

The commissions decision stemmed from a contested hearing in which tenant Renato Kumar and his wife testified that they paid $1,800 as the last agreed rent and that, shortly after filing a complaint about an increase and building conditions, they received a notice to quit. Landlord counsel argued the concession addendum had expired and that the underlying lease set rent at $2,000 (plus a $100 holdover charge), contending a notice to quit for nonpayment cannot be deemed retaliatory under Conn. Gen. Stat. 47a-28.

Commissioners heard sworn testimony, reviewed lease and payment records the tenants marked as exhibits, and debated whether the notice to quit removed the commissions jurisdiction. After deliberation the commissions majority concluded the issuance of the notice following the complaint amounted to retaliation. The panel ordered the landlord to stop pursuing the eviction, accept $1,800 in rent for the duration of the Fair Rent proceeding and to accept rent by the same methods in use before the complaint was filed.

Commissioners also debated whether to remove a $600 balance that appeared on the landlords online portal. The commission ultimately amended its order to instruct the landlord to remove that $600 ledger entry from the tenants account; commissioners recorded a 3to2 vote on that specific ledger removal amendment.

The commission directed staff to draft a written decision reflecting the motion, the remedies ordered, and the factual findings. The decision will be circulated to the parties when available; staff encouraged the parties to pursue settlement discussions but said any settlement offers would not be treated as formal relief unless memorialized in a commission filing.

The order is limited to the facts the commission found in this case; counsel for the landlord said the firm would review the commissions written decision for statutory basis and possible further action. The commission encouraged the parties to notify staff if they reach a settlement and noted the decision will be followed up at the next meeting, at which the parties may be asked to demonstrate compliance.

Vote details and immediate next steps were recorded on the public record; the commission said it will issue the signed decision and serve it to the parties once finalized.