Landlord Entering Without Notice in Connecticut: What Are My Rights?

1. Your landlord must give you reasonable notice before entering your home, spoken or written. Your landlord can only come at a reasonable time, except in an emergency. Connecticut law does not set an exact number of days for this notice. It only says the notice must be reasonable.

   Connecticut General Assembly § 47a-16(c)

   ✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026

2. You cannot refuse to let your landlord into your home for no good reason. Your landlord may need to inspect it, or make repairs or changes that are needed or that you agreed to. Your landlord may also need to provide services that are needed or that you agreed to. Your landlord may also want to show your home to a possible buyer, lender, new renter, worker, or contractor.

   Connecticut General Assembly § 47a-16(a)

   ✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026

3. Sometimes your landlord can come into your home even if you do not agree. One of those times is when there is an emergency.

   Connecticut General Assembly § 47a-16(b)

   ✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026

4. Your landlord can enter your home without your permission if a court orders it. Your landlord can also enter if you have moved out and given up the home for good.

   Connecticut General Assembly § 47a-16(d)

   ✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026

5. Unless you and your landlord agreed otherwise, you must tell your landlord if you will be away from your home for a long time. Your landlord can then enter at reasonable times while you are away, to inspect the home. Your landlord can also make repairs or changes that are needed or agreed to, and provide services that are needed or agreed to. Your landlord can also show your home to a possible buyer, lender, new renter, worker, or contractor.

   Connecticut General Assembly § 47a-16a

   ✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026

6. Your landlord cannot misuse the right to enter your home to bother you. A request to enter that would otherwise be allowed can break the law if your landlord repeats it just to bother you.

   Connecticut General Assembly § 47a-16(c)

   ✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026

7. If your landlord enters your home in a way the law does not allow, you can sue for money. You can also sue if your landlord bothers you with repeated demands to enter. The court must award you at least one month's rent, plus your lawyer's fees. A court can also order your landlord to stop, or let you end the lease early. You get this money only if you win your case and your landlord pays.

   RenterLaw editorial Connecticut General Assembly § 47a-18a

   ✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026

8. A protective or restraining order (a court order to keep someone away from you) can name you as a protected person. If you give your landlord a copy of that order, your landlord must change your locks or let you change them yourself. Your landlord must tell you within 6 hours whether they will change the locks. If your landlord agrees to change the locks, your landlord must do it within 48 hours.

   Connecticut General Assembly § 47a-7b(a)

   ✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026

9. These rules are for a Connecticut renter with a restraining or protective order (a court order that requires someone to stay away from your home). Your landlord may tell you that you must change the locks yourself. If your landlord does not change the locks, or does not let you change them in time, you can do it yourself. The new locks must be as good as or better than the old ones, and installed properly. You must give your landlord a key within 2 business days, unless you have a good reason not to. If you skip these steps, your landlord may charge you for changing the locks or change them again. Get legal help first.

   RenterLaw editorial Connecticut General Assembly § 47a-7b(a)

   ✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026

10. If your landlord changes your locks because of a protective order, your landlord must pay anyone hired to do the work. Your landlord must also give you a key before or when the locks are changed. Your landlord may charge you the actual cost of the lock and the cost of hiring someone to install it. Your landlord cannot evict you just for not paying this fee. Your landlord can sue you for it, or take it from your deposit when you move out.

    Connecticut General Assembly § 47a-7b(c)

    ✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026

11. If a protective order requires you to stay away from your home, your landlord will not give you a key to the new locks. Your landlord also cannot let you back in, unless a court order allows it so you can get your things. You still owe rent under your lease, and are responsible for damage to the home, even while you are kept out.

    Connecticut General Assembly § 47a-7b(e)

    ✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026

12. Your landlord cannot force their way into your home and put you out. Your landlord also cannot get in peacefully and then use force to keep you from coming back. If this happens, you can bring a complaint to a Connecticut court.

    Connecticut General Assembly § 47a-43(a)

    ✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026

13. If a judge finds your landlord forced their way into your home, or used force to keep you out, the judge must act. The judge must order that you get back into your home. Your landlord must also pay your court costs. You get this money only if you win your case and your landlord pays.

    RenterLaw editorial Connecticut General Assembly § 47a-45a(a)

    ✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026

14. If your landlord forces entry into your home, or keeps you out by force, a court can act. The court can order your landlord to pay you twice the money you lost. For example, if the court decides you lost $600, you would get $1,200. You can also get your court costs paid back. You get this money only if you win your case and your landlord pays.

    RenterLaw editorial Connecticut General Assembly § 47a-46

    ✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026

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