Southington, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 33 (2026) § 33-3
Determination of excessive rent (Southington Fair Rent Commission)
Operative Text
A. In determining whether a rental charge or a proposed increase in a rental charge is so excessive, with due regard to all the circumstances, as to be harsh and unconscionable, the Commission shall consider such of the following circumstances as are applicable to the type of accommodation: (1) The rents charged for the same number of rooms in other housing accommodations in the same and in other areas of the municipality; (2) The sanitary conditions existing in the housing accommodations in question; (3) The number of bathtubs or showers, flush waste closets, kitchen sinks and lavatory basins available to the occupants thereof; (4) Services, furniture, furnishings and equipment supplied therein; (5) The size and number of bedrooms contained therein; (6) Repairs necessary to make such accommodations reasonably livable for the occupants accommodated therein; (7) The amount of taxes and overhead expenses, including debt services thereof, specific to the subject property; (8) Whether the accommodations are in compliance with the ordinances of the Town of Southington and the General Statutes of the State of Connecticut relating to health and safety; (9) The verifiable income and other support of the petitioner, including but not limited to all tenants listed on the lease(s); (10) The availability of utilities; (11) Damages done to the premises by the tenant, caused by other than ordinary wear and tear; (12) The amount and frequency of increases in rental charges; and (13) Whether, and the extent to which, the income from an increase in rental charges has been or will be reinvested in improvements relevant to the tenant's occupancy of the property or accommodations available to the tenant, including common amenities and areas of the subject property. B. Determinations by the Commission shall not be made solely based on equity of either party in a hearing. All applicable factors in this section shall be taken into consideration, and nothing in this section shall preclude the Commission from considering other market-based, relevant information in making its findings. C. To aid in the Commission's ability to make appropriate determinations and to completely satisfy the conditions of conducting studies as set forth in Public Act 22-30 and also this chapter, the Commission shall conduct annually a study to determine the market rental rates within the Commission's jurisdiction, including but not limited to multifamily, condominiums, apartments, single-family homes, mobile manufactured homes and mobile manufactured home park lots and make the output of the study available to the public. D. The rent of a tenant protected by C.G.S. § 47a-23c who files a complaint with the Commission pursuant to C.G.S. § 47a-23c(c)(2) may be increased only to the extent that such increase is fair and equitable, based on the criteria set forth in C.G.S. § 7-148c.
Section 33-3 of Southington's Code of Ordinances establishes a multi-factor framework that the Rent Commission uses to evaluate whether a rental charge or proposed rent increase is so excessive as to be harsh and unconscionable. The Commission weighs up to thirteen listed factors—ranging from comparable rents in the area and property conditions to tax burdens, tenant income, and planned reinvestment in improvements—alongside any other relevant market-based information. No single factor, including either party's financial equity, is automatically decisive. For tenants protected under Connecticut General Statutes § 47a-23c, any rent increase must also meet a separate 'fair and equitable' standard tied to state law criteria.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 33-3, property owners and managers in Southington who seek a rent increase should be prepared to document the full range of factors the Commission may examine, including comparable rents in the area, property tax and overhead costs, the condition and amenities of the unit, and any planned reinvestment of increased revenue into improvements that benefit tenants. Because the Commission conducts an annual market rental rate study and may consider market-based information beyond the thirteen listed factors, maintaining organized records of expenses, repairs, and capital improvements supports a well-rounded presentation. Operators whose properties include tenants protected by C.G.S. § 47a-23c should be aware that increases for those tenants are subject to an additional 'fair and equitable' review under state law criteria.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 33-3 gives Southington's Rent Commission a broad set of tools to evaluate whether a rent increase is excessive, including the condition of the unit, available services and amenities, the frequency of past increases, and whether the landlord plans to reinvest the additional revenue in improvements relevant to tenants' occupancy. Tenants who believe a proposed increase is harsh and unconscionable may file a complaint with the Commission, which is required to weigh all applicable factors and cannot rule based solely on either party's financial equity. Tenants who qualify for protections under C.G.S. § 47a-23c have an additional avenue under § 33-3(D), and tenant-rights organizations in Connecticut can help explain how those state-law protections interact with the local ordinance.
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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