Groton, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 9 art. II (2026) § 9-44
Procedure for claim of retaliation (Groton Art. II: Fair Rent Commission)
Operative Text
(a) Upon the receipt of any claim of retaliatory action, the fair rent commission staff shall inform the landlord of the claim and shall investigate the claim. If the claim is not resolved through conciliation, the commission shall convene a hearing within 60 days of the filing of the claim for the purpose of determining whether the landlord has engaged in a retaliatory action, and the commission shall render its decision within 75 days of the filing of the claim. (b) Pending determination by the commission, the landlord shall not commence or continue any action or proceeding against the tenant to recover possession of the dwelling unit, the landlord shall not decrease any services to which the tenant is entitled and the tenant shall continue to pay the amount of rent in effect at the time of the claim of retaliatory action. (c) If after such hearing the fair rent commission finds that the landlord has engaged in a retaliatory action in violation of the provisions of this section, the commission may, pursuant to its powers under C.G.S. §§ 7-148b through 7-148f and 47a-20, this article and this section, make any of the following orders: (1) That the landlord cease and desist from such conduct. (2) That the landlord maintain no action or proceeding against the tenant to recover possession of the dwelling unit. (d) Notice of claim of retaliatory action, filed under the provisions of this section, is not deemed to be a complaint for the purpose of C.G.S. § 47a-20 or section 9-42 .
Section 9-44 of Groton's Code of Ordinances establishes a formal process for handling retaliation claims filed against landlords. Once a claim is filed, the Fair Rent Commission staff investigates and attempts conciliation; if unresolved, a hearing must be held within 60 days and a decision issued within 75 days. During this pending period, the landlord is prohibited from pursuing eviction or reducing tenant services, while the tenant must continue paying the rent amount that was in effect when the claim was filed. If retaliation is found, the commission can order the landlord to stop the retaliatory conduct and to refrain from seeking possession of the unit.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 9-44, once a retaliation claim is filed, a landlord operating in compliance generally refrains from initiating or continuing any eviction proceedings and maintains all services the tenant is entitled to receive while the Fair Rent Commission's review is pending. A compliant operator cooperates with the commission's investigation and conciliation process and responds to any notice from commission staff in a timely manner. If the commission ultimately finds a violation, it holds authority under § 9-44 to issue cease-and-desist orders and bar recovery-of-possession actions, so operators typically keep thorough records documenting the legitimate, non-retaliatory basis for any rent or tenancy actions taken.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 9-44 gives tenants in Groton a structured path to challenge what they believe is retaliatory conduct by their landlord, including the right to have a claim investigated and heard by the Fair Rent Commission within defined timeframes. During the review period, the provision prohibits the landlord from moving forward with eviction or cutting services, which can serve as a meaningful protection while the process unfolds. Tenants who believe they are experiencing retaliation may consider contacting the Groton Fair Rent Commission directly to understand the filing process, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for general guidance on how § 9-44 applies to their circumstances.
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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