West Haven, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 97 (2026) § 97-9
Retaliatory action by landlord (West Haven Fair Rent Commission)
Operative Text
No landlord shall maintain an action or proceeding against a tenant to recover possession of a dwelling unit, demand an increase in rent from the tenant or decrease the services to which the tenant has been entitled within six months after the tenant has in good faith filed a complaint with the West Haven Fair Rent Commission. The tenant shall continue to pay the amount of rent in effect of the claim of retaliatory action.
West Haven, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 97 § 97-9 prohibits landlords from taking certain adverse actions against a tenant within six months of that tenant filing a good-faith complaint with the West Haven Fair Rent Commission. Specifically, the rule bars eviction proceedings, rent increases, and reductions in previously provided services during that protected window. The provision also requires that the tenant continue paying the rent amount that was in effect at the time the retaliation claim arises.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under ch. 97 § 97-9, compliant operators in West Haven generally refrain from initiating eviction actions, raising rents, or cutting services for any tenant who has recently filed a complaint with the West Haven Fair Rent Commission, for a period of six months following that filing. Operators typically document the independent, non-retaliatory business reasons behind any rent or service changes that happen to fall within that window. Maintaining clear records of when complaints are filed and when any tenancy actions are taken helps demonstrate that decisions were made on legitimate grounds unrelated to the complaint.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 97-9 of West Haven's Code of Ordinances gives tenants a protected period of six months after filing a good-faith complaint with the West Haven Fair Rent Commission, during which a landlord may not seek to evict them, raise their rent, or reduce their entitled services. If a landlord takes any of those actions within that window, a tenant may be able to raise the retaliation prohibition as a defense in any resulting court proceeding. Tenants who believe this protection has been violated can consider contacting the West Haven Fair Rent Commission directly or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization to understand 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 November 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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