Hartford, Conn., Mun. Code ch. 18 § 18-52

Occupant's responsibilities (Hartford Housing Code and Rental Licensing Program)

In Force
Verified 9/17/2026 · Next check 12/16/2026
HartfordHabitability & Repair

Operative Text

Hartford, Conn., Mun. Code ch. 18 § 18-52
While in all circumstances the owner shall have the ultimate responsibility of timely repairs, and no dispute about occupant responsibilities shall delay repairs, every occupant of a housing unit must: A.
Keep in a clean and sanitary condition that part of the housing unit and premises thereof which he or she occupies and controls.
B. Dispose of all rubbish in a clean and sanitary manner and in appropriate containers, separating recyclables from other rubbish in accordance with chapter 15 of the municipal code.
C. Keep all supplied fixtures and facilities therein in a clean and sanitary condition and exercise reasonable care in the proper use and operation thereof.
D. Allow the owner, subject to the terms of a written lease and state law, to access any part of such housing unit or its premises at all reasonable times for the purpose of making such repairs or alterations as are necessary to effect compliance with the provisions of this chapter, with any lawful rule or regulation adopted or any lawful order issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
E. Maintain or replace screens, once properly installed in any one (1) season, where the occupant has damaged such screens.
F. Notify an owner orally or in writing when he or she knows or reasonably suspects that the housing unit is infested and cooperate with any inspection and treatment, pursuant to G.S. § 47a-7a; and refrain from taking any action which would increase the likelihood that the infestation spreads to other units.
G. Use reasonable efforts to maintain the housing unit and any other part of the premises and he or she occupies in such a condition as to prevent accumulation of moisture and the growth of mold, and to promptly notify the owner of any moisture accumulation that occurs or of any visible evidence of mold discovered.
H. Replace light bulbs within the occupant's housing unit if they are extinguished, after the first month of occupancy, unless an executed lease for the housing unit places responsibility for this task on another party.
I. Deposit with the owner any key to any locking device, upon termination of the occupant's interest in the housing unit.
J. Prevent from being removed, shut off, or discontinued any service, facility, equipment, or utility required under this chapter, except when any of the following conditions occur:
(1) Such temporary interruption as may be necessary while actual repairs.
(2) Alterations are in process or during temporary emergencies when discontinuance of service is approved by the director of health.
(3) The occupant is in financial distress and demonstrates an inability to pay the costs of maintaining such a service, facility, equipment, or utility, which shall provide such occupant special consideration in accordance with section 18-109 .
K. Periodically test smoke detectors installed within dwelling units and replace batteries, provided that this obligation does not apply to occupants of group living units, hotel units, and rooming units; and pay if requested by the owner for the replacement of a smoke detector if it malfunctions due to the fault of the applicant.
L. Ensure that maximum occupancy is maintained at the levels represented in the application and at the maximum level allowed by the building code, the zoning regulations, or any other law, code, or regulation, whichever number is less.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Hartford, Conn., Mun. Code ch. 18 § 18-52 establishes a list of responsibilities that housing unit occupants must fulfill alongside—but never instead of—the owner's overarching duty to make timely repairs. Occupants are required to keep their space clean, dispose of waste properly, care for fixtures, notify owners of pest infestations or mold, maintain smoke detectors, and respect occupancy limits, among other duties. Importantly, the provision makes clear that no dispute over these occupant obligations can be used to delay repairs that the owner is otherwise required to make.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on September 17, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Under Hartford, Conn., Mun. Code ch. 18 § 18-52, compliant property operators document the condition of units at move-in and communicate clearly with occupants about their maintenance duties, such as replacing light bulbs after the first month and testing smoke detectors. Operators also maintain accessible channels for occupants to report pest activity, moisture, or mold, and ensure lease terms align with the code's access and key-return provisions. Critically, operators recognize that their ultimate repair responsibility cannot be deferred by pointing to an occupant's failure to meet these duties.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Hartford, Conn., Mun. Code ch. 18 § 18-52 outlines what tenants are expected to do—such as keeping their unit sanitary, reporting infestations and mold promptly, and testing smoke detectors—while affirming that owners retain ultimate repair responsibility. Tenants who believe an owner is improperly using this provision to delay repairs may consider contacting Hartford's health or housing authorities or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on 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 September 17, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

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Related Rules

§ 244.260
Compliance required
§ 14.567
ADOPTED BY REFERENCE
§ 244.340
Sewer and water connections

Source Information

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