Connecticut State Connecticut COVID-19 Response

Homeowners and Renters

MORTGAGE RELIEF FOR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES: Governor Ned Lamont has reached an agreement with over 50 credit unions and banks in Connecticut to offer mortgage relief to the state’s residents and businesses who continue to face hardship caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, visit the Department of Banking webpage regarding mortgage relief. 

UPDATE FOR LANDLORDS AND RENTERS:

 

On October 20, 2020, Governor Lamont extended protections for residential renters affected by COVID-19 under Executive Order 9H.

The executive order extends the moratorium on residential evictions to January 1, 2021, prohibiting a landlord from serving a notice to quit or serving or returning a summary process action prior to January 1, 2021. An eviction can proceed on January 4, since Connecticut law stipulates that an eviction can proceed three days after a Notice to Quit is served.

The executive order provides that notices to quit may be served and summary process actions may be initiated for (i) nonpayment of rent due on or before February 29, 2020, (ii) serious nuisance, (iii) serious nonpayment of rent, defined as a rental arrearage equal to or greater than six months’ worth of rent due on or after March 1, 2020, or (iv) where the term of a rental agreement has expired and the landlord has a bona fide intention to use the dwelling unit as the landlord’s principal residence. 

Notices to Quit for nonpayment of rent must specify the months of past-due rent. All residential notices to quit, except for those for serious nuisance, must be delivered along with a copy of the CDC Declaration provided for in the CDC’s “Temporary Halt in Residential Evictions to Prevent the Further Spread of COVID-19,” 85 FR 55292 (September 4, 2020).

The eviction moratorium issued by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) prevents residential renters from being evicted for nonpayment of rent prior to January 1, 2021 where the appropriate CDC Declaration referenced above is completed.

Landlords with federally-backed mortgages (which make up approximately 70% of U.S. mortgages) cannot evict renters prior to January 1, 2021.

The court system is establishing its own rules for prioritizing cases in the interest of social distancing and public health.

Executive Order 7OOO extended the opportunity originally provided under Executive Order 7X for tenants to apply additional security deposit to rent upon request for rent due in April, May, June, July, August, or September 2020.

You can apply the balance of any security deposit worth more than one month’s rent, including any interest that has accrued on your initial deposit, for rent due during April, May, June, July, August, or September, 2020.

On June 29, 2020, together with the provisions of 7DDD, the Governor announced new resources to assist tenants, homeowners, and residential property owners. 

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The state and federal government have taken a number of steps to help protect homeowners and renters impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak:

Connecticut Judicial Branch - Consistent with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's recently enacted 60-day moratorium on foreclosures and evictions, the Court is hereby extending its previous Orders cancelling some foreclosure sales with the following Orders:

  • ALL foreclosure sales previously scheduled to have occurred in April or May are hereby rescheduled to Saturday, June 6, 2020, with no appointed Committee to begin working on the sale (i.e.place foreclosure signs on properties, etc.) prior to May 1, 2020.

  • The judgment in ANY foreclosure action in which the Court set a “law day” to run on any date in April or May is hereby amended with the first law day now set for June 2, 2020. 

  • There shall be an immediate stay of all issued executions on evictions and ejectments through May 1, 2020.

For updates, go to the Judicial Branch COVID-19 webpage.

Connecticut Housing Finance Authority - The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) has provided guidance for homeowners, lenders and property managers. 

Coronavirus and Homelessness Resource Guide - The Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness (CCEH) is coordinating closely with the Connecticut Department of Housing and other state agencies as part of the state’s emergency management system to assist homeless services providers in the response to COVID-19. CCEH has developed a resource guide to provide useful information to providers of homeless shelters, transitional housing, drop-in centers, and other homeless services to assist with preparation and prevention of spread of COVID-19 in Connecticut. 

Department of Banking - The Connecticut Department of Banking has issued guidance to Connecticut Residential Mortgage Servicers related to the impact of COVID-19 on the mortgage industry.

Fair Housing Protections & the COVID -19 Fact Sheet & Updates - In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Connecticut Fair Housing Center is working to better understand and address any fair housing impacts of this public health emergency. Resources are available on the Center's website for renters, home owners, housing providers, social service providers, and other community organizations, as we all work to address the pandemic. If you have any questions or concerns about fair housing protection, or believe you have experienced discrimination in housing, please call the Center at (860) 247-4400 or (888) 247-4401 (toll free), or write to us at info@ctfairhousing.org.

Fannie Mae Assistance Options - Mortgage relief options are available for homeowners with loans with Fannie Mae. Information on help for Fannie Mae homeowners who have been affected by COVID-19 is available on the Fannie Mae COVID-19 website.