A Connecticut lawmaker is considering introducing legislation that would create a registry for many residential landlords and a temporary rent cap when multifamily properties change ownership.
CTInsider.com reports State Rep. Antonio Felipe (D-Bridgeport), the co-chairman of the Connecticut General Assembly’s Housing Committee, is part of a wider discussion on the lack of housing affordability and the limited number of rental units across the state. While Connecticut municipalities have the option to establish local landlord registrations directories, there is no statewide register. Felipe insisted the register would make it easier to tenants and others to know who owns apartment properties.
“We’re not sure exactly how that’s going to work out, but we do want to make sure that some of the LLCs that may own property have a point of contact for their residents,” said Felipe.
Bob DeCosmo, president of the CT Property Owners Alliance, voiced his opposition to the plan, stating it was an overreaction to limited cases of negligent property management.
“Connecticut has a large amount of empty units that have been purchased by out-of-state investors,” DeCosmo said. “A percentage of these guys don’t take care of business — they let their properties run to the ground and they don’t respond to tenant complaints.”
As for the rent cap proposal, Connecticut is dealing with rising home prices and a shortage of housing affordability options. SmartMLS, the Connecticut multiple listing service, found statewide home prices were up 8.2% year-over-year in the fourth quarter of 2024.
“We see a rise in people purchasing properties in excess of millions and millions of dollars, and then raising the rent — not by just 5% or 10%, we’re talking about raising the rent in some cases up to 50% or 60%,” said Sen. Herron Gaston (D-Bridgeport), noting the tenants in those buildings “are people whose incomes have stayed the same.”
Photo: Rabbitti / iStock
Let’s put caps on yearly insurance rates and years property tax increases first, if we are going to put caps on rent increases. The vast majority of landlords do the right thing. We have invested our own money so others have a place to live. Don’t throw me and my wife in the same bucket as some national conpany who could give a damn about their community. That angers me. Inhave lived here for 62 years.
Insurance this year went up $2,850 a year on my properties over last year. That is $712 dollars per home I rent. (4)
Taxes increased also. I live here and take care of my properties.
I must pass on a portion of the increases on to tenants or my wife lll just sell to an out of state corpiration who has no connection to our community.
It’s time to ask why rent is being raised. Because often there is a major reason. Good landlords want to keep good tenants, but we cannot pay for others housing obligations. I’m not a non profit.
For those who see landlords as rich it is bull. We have taken a big financial risk with our family.
This sounds so…communist.
California tried, it was shutdown, thank goodness! It is definitely communism, the government owns everything allowing them to control all aspects of our lives🤬
Our founding fathers were extremely smart and understood the value of owning land. Thank goodness we still have property rights, though the government continues to try and erode them.
Under all is the land!
The Constitution State wants to increase state regulations for private real estate investors. Sounds socialist.