Can a landlord change the locks to force a tenant out in Connecticut?
No. A lockout or utility shut-off entitles the tenant to injunctive relief and double damages. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-43, 47a-46. In Connecticut a tenant may be removed only through the court process, which is set by Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-15a, 47a-23, 47a-23a, 47a-26, 47a-35, 47a-43.
| What | Connecticut |
|---|---|
| Changing the locks, cutting a utility or removing belongings | Unlawful |
| Who may remove a tenant | Only a court officer acting on a court order |
Notes
Connecticut gives a nine-day grace period before rent is legally late, and requires mediation in some judicial districts. A stay of execution of up to six months is available to a tenant who applies.
Source
Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-15a, 47a-23, 47a-23a, 47a-26, 47a-35, 47a-43 — last checked 2026-09-16.
This is a summary of the published procedure, not legal advice. Courts, local rules and the facts of a tenancy change what applies, and a defect in a notice or a filing can end a case. Have a lawyer review anything before it is served or filed.
How Seayora uses this rule
Seayora does not file, serve or appear in an eviction, and is not anybody’s lawyer. When a tenant has stopped paying, it lays out these steps for the property’s own state and city with the statute beside each one, holds back any step that would come too early, keeps an append-only record of the case — and shows the resident what would end it, legal-aid links included.
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