Expanded ‘Just Cause' eviction bill gets support from Gov. Lamont
A bill that would protect tenants from being evicted without cause has a stronger chance of becoming law. It’s failed every year it’s been brought up, but for the first time, it’s getting support from Gov. Ned Lamont.
Housing advocates celebrated the support at the Capitol on Tuesday.
“We all collectively recognize that it’s time to take action to protect renters, to promote housing stability, to keep people housed, to prevent homelessness from continuing to go up, to reduce our eviction crisis, and to do it this year and not wait any longer,” Luke Melonakos-Harrison, CT Tenants Union vice president, said.
Currently, tenants can be evicted at the end of their lease without reason. Only seniors and disabled renters are protected under state law.
This bill expands “just cause” protections to tenants in good standing who live in buildings with five or more units for at least one year. It passed the housing committee last week and has received support from Lamont, according to a spokesperson from the governor’s office.
“It’s important that people have that peace of mind that the administration is looking at this the same way that we do,” Rep. Antonio Felipe (D Bridgeport) said.
Under the bill, reasons for eviction include nonpayment of rent, nuisance behavior, and illegal activities.”
But landlords argue they need the right to end a lease. John Souza, a landlord who also advocates for property owners, is against the bill.
“We agreed to one year, the leases end, and I’m going to ask you to move. It’s not a punishment,” John Souza, CT Coalition of Property Owners president, said. “It’s the end of the lease. It’s the end of the contract.”
He said he doesn’t want to kick out tenants, but a situation might require it.
“If I have to remodel a unit because it’s falling apart and I can’t get somebody out, what am I supposed to do?” he asked.
Rep. Tony Scott (R-Monroe), a ranking member of the housing committee, calls this bill a slippery slope, saying it could hurt tenants.
“There will be a lot more attempted evictions, and that court action will be on a tenant’s record, leading to a hard time getting a rental in the future,” he said.
The full legislature has until May 6 to vote on the bill.
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