Roommate Agreement in Connecticut

An agreement between roommates on rent shares, bills, chores and moving out. It is a contract between you — it does not change your lease with the landlord.

What Connecticut law says

Roommate not on the lease	A "tenant" is the lessee, a sublessee, or a person entitled under a written or oral rental agreement to occupy the unit. A roommate who has no agreement with the landlord or the tenant is an occupant, not a tenant; a roommate who sublets from the tenant is a sublessee and so a tenant of that tenant. Whether a landlord's acceptance of rent from a roommate creates a tenancy depends on the facts. If a tenant who is a victim of family violence or sexual assault ends the rental agreement early under § 47a-11e, any occupant without a right or privilege to occupy must leave before the termination date (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-11e(d)). Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-1(i), (l)
Removing a roommate or subtenant	A tenant who sublets is a "landlord" (the definition includes a sublessor), so a subtenant roommate is removed through the court eviction (summary process) route: a written notice to quit, delivered by a proper officer at least 3 days before the quit date, followed by a summary process case. The notice can also be used against an occupant who never had a right to occupy or whose right or privilege to occupy has ended. Only a state marshal can carry out an eviction after judgment. Changing locks or removing belongings without court process can lead to an entry and detainer case (Conn. Gen. Stat. ch. 833). Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-1(d), 47a-23(a), (c)

Roommate not on the lease

A "tenant" is the lessee, a sublessee, or a person entitled under a written or oral rental agreement to occupy the unit. A roommate who has no agreement with the landlord or the tenant is an occupant, not a tenant; a roommate who sublets from the tenant is a sublessee and so a tenant of that tenant. Whether a landlord's acceptance of rent from a roommate creates a tenancy depends on the facts.

If a tenant who is a victim of family violence or sexual assault ends the rental agreement early under § 47a-11e, any occupant without a right or privilege to occupy must leave before the termination date (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-11e(d)).

Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-1(i), (l)

Removing a roommate or subtenant

A tenant who sublets is a "landlord" (the definition includes a sublessor), so a subtenant roommate is removed through the court eviction (summary process) route: a written notice to quit, delivered by a proper officer at least 3 days before the quit date, followed by a summary process case. The notice can also be used against an occupant who never had a right to occupy or whose right or privilege to occupy has ended.

Only a state marshal can carry out an eviction after judgment. Changing locks or removing belongings without court process can lead to an entry and detainer case (Conn. Gen. Stat. ch. 833).

Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-1(d), 47a-23(a), (c)

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ROOMMATE AGREEMENT for [rental address]

Roommates: [roommate names]

Rent: total $[total rent] per month. Shares: [each roommate's share]. Each share is paid to [who pays the landlord] by [due date].

Security deposit paid by each roommate: [deposit shares]. When someone moves out, their share is returned [how and when].

Utilities and internet: [how bills are split and who holds each account].

Rooms and shared spaces: [who has which room; shared areas].

Cleaning and chores: [chore plan]. Quiet hours: [quiet hours]. Guests: [overnight guest limits].

Moving out: a roommate who leaves gives [notice period] written notice to the others and [finds a replacement approved by the landlord / pays their share until the lease ends].

Disputes: we will first try to talk it out, then [mediation or small claims court].

Signatures and dates: [signatures]

Roommate Agreement for other states · Connecticut tenant rights

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.