Enfield, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 14, art. III § 14-121
Owner's responsibilities
Operative Text
The responsibilities of owners and occupants contained in this division are in addition to those specified elsewhere throughout this housing code. (1) An owner shall: a. Comply with the requirements of G.S. chs. 368o, 830 and 833a and all applicable building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety of both the state and town; b. Make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition, except where the premises are intentionally rendered unfit or uninhabitable by the occupant, a member of his family or other person on the premises with his consent, in which case such duty shall be the responsibility of the occupant; c. Keep all common areas of the premises in a clean and safe condition; d. Maintain in good and safe working order and condition all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating and other facilities and appliances and elevators, supplied or required to be supplied by him; e. Provide and maintain appropriate receptacles and covers for the removal of ashes, garbage, rubbish and other waste incidental to the occupancy of the dwelling unit and arrange for their removal. (2) The owner and occupant of a dwelling unit may agree that the occupant is to perform specified repairs, maintenance tasks, alterations or remodeling if: a. The agreement of the parties is entered into in good faith; b. The agreement is in writing; c. The work is not necessary to cure noncompliance with subsections (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section; and d. The agreement does not diminish or affect the obligation of the owner to other occupants in the premises. (3) Compliance by nonconforming rooms, etc. Each habitable room or dwelling unit that does not conform to this housing code and becomes vacated for any reason for a period of 15 days shall conform to this housing code before it is deemed habitable again. The owner of each habitable room or dwelling unit shall be held responsible for compliance to this housing code in any instance where such an habitable or dwelling unit is considered noncomplying. Such work as is necessary to bring each habitable room or dwelling unit that is ruled noncomplying up to the standards as noted in this housing code shall be completed within six months of adoption of this housing code. (4) Shared or common areas. Every owner of a dwelling containing two or more dwelling units shall be responsible for maintaining in a clean and sanitary condition the shared or common areas of the dwelling and premises thereof. The owner and occupant may agree only under terms of a lease executed in writing that the tenant assume responsibility for keeping the common areas of the premises in a clean and safe condition.
Enfield Code of Ordinances ch. 14, art. III § 14-121 establishes a set of baseline responsibilities that property owners must meet in addition to any other obligations found elsewhere in the housing code. Owners are generally required to keep rental premises fit and habitable, maintain common areas, and ensure that all major systems—electrical, plumbing, heating, and similar facilities—remain in safe working order. The provision also allows owners and occupants to shift certain repair or maintenance tasks to the occupant by written agreement, provided specific conditions are met and the agreement does not undermine the owner's duties to other residents. Nonconforming units that become vacant for 15 or more days must be brought into compliance before they can be reoccupied.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Enfield Code of Ordinances ch. 14, art. III § 14-121, compliant property operators generally maintain all structural, mechanical, and sanitary systems in safe working order and keep common areas clean throughout the tenancy. When an owner and occupant wish to reassign specific maintenance tasks, operators typically document that arrangement in a written, good-faith agreement that does not reduce the owner's obligations to other tenants in the building. Owners of multi-unit properties should also be aware that responsibility for shared or common areas rests with them by default, and any lease-based transfer of that duty to a tenant must be executed in writing.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Enfield Code of Ordinances ch. 14, art. III § 14-121 gives tenants a baseline expectation that their dwelling will be kept fit and habitable, that common areas will be maintained, and that essential systems like heating and plumbing will remain in safe working order. If an owner attempts to shift repair responsibilities to a tenant, that arrangement must be in writing, entered in good faith, and cannot be used to avoid correcting conditions that make the unit unfit or uninhabitable. Tenants who believe these standards are not being met may consider contacting Enfield's local housing or code enforcement office, or reaching out to a tenant-rights organization for general information about available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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