New Haven, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 12¾ § 12¾-11
Filing of claim of retaliatory action
Operative Text
(a) Upon receipt of a claim of retaliatory action, the commission staff shall investigate to determine whether the claim meets the criteria for retaliation. If after the investigation the claim is found to meet the retaliation criteria, the commission shall conduct a hearing on the merits. (b) If after such a hearing the fair rent commission finds that the landlord has engaged in retaliatory action in violation of the provisions of section 12 ¾-10(a), the commission, pursuant to its powers under Connecticut General Statutes Section 7-148(b) through(£) and this ordinance of the City of New Haven, shall order the landlord to cease and desist from such actions. This cease and desist order may include the following provisions: (1) That the landlord maintain no action against the tenant to recover possession of the dwelling unit; (2) That the landlord shall not increase the rent; (3) That the landlord shall restore the services to which the tenant was entitled; (4) That the landlord shall cease and desist from all verbal, physical, and sexual harassment of the tenant. (c) The filing of a complaint with the commission or any other city department does not relieve the tenant from paying the last agreed upon rent, absent proof of a prior decision from a governing authority permitting the tenant to withhold rent.
New Haven Code of Ordinances ch. 12¾ § 12¾-11 establishes a formal process through which the Fair Rent Commission investigates and adjudicates claims that a landlord has taken retaliatory action against a tenant. If an investigation confirms the claim meets the retaliation criteria, a hearing is held, and the Commission may order the landlord to stop the retaliatory conduct—including halting eviction proceedings, rent increases, service reductions, or harassment. Importantly, filing a complaint with the Commission or any city department does not suspend a tenant's obligation to continue paying the last agreed-upon rent unless a governing authority has already authorized withholding.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under ch. 12¾ § 12¾-11, landlords who are found by the Fair Rent Commission to have engaged in retaliation face a formal cease and desist order that can cover a range of conduct, including eviction actions, rent increases, service reductions, and harassment. Operators who maintain clear records of legitimate, non-retaliatory reasons for any changes in tenancy terms or services are generally better positioned during a Commission investigation. Compliance with the cease and desist provisions outlined in § 12¾-11(b) is required once such an order is issued.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ch. 12¾ § 12¾-11 gives tenants a formal path to challenge retaliatory conduct by filing a claim with the New Haven Fair Rent Commission, which will investigate and, if warranted, hold a hearing that can result in a cease and desist order against the landlord. Tenants should be aware that under § 12¾-11(c), filing a complaint does not automatically permit withholding rent—the last agreed-upon rent remains due unless a governing authority has specifically authorized otherwise. Tenant-rights organizations in New Haven can help individuals understand how the Commission process works and what documentation may be relevant to a retaliation claim.
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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