Torrington, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 24 § 24-3

A. Complaints shall be filed with the Office of the City Clerk on a form adopted by the Commission. Upon the filing of a complaint, the Commission shall promptly notify all parties in writing of the receipt of the complaint. Such notice shall also inform the parties that the landlord is prohibited from retaliating against the tenant. It shall also inform the parties that, until a decision on the complaint is made by the Commission, the tenant's liability shall be for the amount of the last rent prior to the increase complained of or, if there is no such increase, the last agreed-upon rent, and that an eviction based upon non-payment of rent cannot be initiated against a tenant who continues to pay the last agreed-upon rent during the pendency of the fair rent commission proceeding.
B. If a complaint alleges housing conditions that violate a housing, health, building, or other code or statute, the Commission shall notify the appropriate municipal office or agency, which may then concurrently exercise its own powers. In addition, the Commission may request that the appropriate municipal official or agency promptly investigate and provide a report to the Commission.
C. If two or more complaints are filed against the same landlord by tenants occupying different rental units in the same building, complex, or mobile home park that appear to raise the same or similar issues, the Commission may consolidate such claims for hearing.
D. The Commission or municipal staff may, to the extent practicable, encourage the parties to the complaint to reach a mutually satisfactory resolution through informal conciliation. Municipal staff may serve as informal conciliators. Any agreement to resolve the complaint shall be in writing and signed by the parties.
E. A hearing shall be held on the complaint not later than 45 days from the date of filing with the City Clerk.
F. Each complainant and each respondent may be represented by one or more attorneys of his/her choice or by any persons so authorized in writing by him/her.
G. Testimony before the Commission shall be under oath, and a verbatim tape (audio/video) recording of each hearing shall be preserved in accordance with state statutes. Minutes of each Fair Rent Commission meeting shall also be taken and preserved as a public record.
H. The Fair Rent Commission shall provide the services of an interpreter whenever requested.
I. In the event that there is insufficient time to complete a hearing or for other cause, the Commission shall have the power to adjourn the hearing to another time and date.
J. No sale, assignment, or transfer of the housing accommodation in question or attempt to evict the tenant shall be cause for discontinuing any pending proceeding, nor shall it affect the rights, duties, and obligations of the Commission or the parties.
K. A memorandum of decision shall be issued by the Fair Rent Commission not later than 21 days from the date of the hearing, unless impractical. The memorandum shall state the reasons for the Fair Rent Commission's decision. Each memorandum of decision shall be kept on file by the Fair Rent Commission in the office of the Town Clerk and, from the moment of filing, shall be open to the public.
L. If the Commission determines after a hearing that the rental charge or proposed increase in the rental charge for any housing accommodation is excessive, based on the criteria set forth in Section 24-2 , it may order that the rent be limited to such an amount as it determines to be fair and equitable, effective the month in which the tenant filed the complaint. A Commission's orders may include, but are not limited to, a reduction in a rental charge or proposed rent increase; a delay in an increased rental charge until specified conditions, such as compliance with municipal code enforcement orders, have been satisfied; or a phase-in of an increase in a rental charge, not to exceed a fair' and equitable rent, in stages over a period of time. Commission orders shall be effective for one year from the date of issuance, unless the Commission otherwise orders.