Renting a home that was foreclosed in Connecticut: your rights

Your rights as a renter in Connecticut, in order

1. Connecticut's own 90-day rule

   At least 90 days after written notice

   After a foreclosure on a federally related mortgage loan, the new owner takes the home subject to a 90-day notice to vacate for any bona fide tenant. A lease signed before title passed runs to its end, unless the home is sold to a buyer who will live there, and that buyer must still give 90 days. See [tenant notice after foreclosure](/notices/tenant-notice-after-foreclosure/).

   Conn. Gen. Stat. § 49-31p(a); Pub. L. 111-22 § 702

2. Who counts as a bona fide tenant

   Checked when title passes

   Your tenancy counts if you are not the borrower or the borrower's child, spouse or parent, it was an arm's length deal, and the rent is not far below market rent unless a government subsidy lowers it. State or local laws that give longer time or more protection still apply.

   Conn. Gen. Stat. § 49-31p(a), (b)

3. Section 8 voucher holders

   After the foreclosure

   If you have a Housing Choice Voucher, the new owner takes over your lease and the housing assistance contract. Wanting the home empty for a sale is not good cause to end your lease. The owner can end it only if it will live there and gives you at least 90 days' notice.

   Conn. Gen. Stat. § 49-31q; 42 U.S.C. § 1437f(o)(7)

4. Not named in the case, not ejected by it

   After judgment

   The court's execution of ejectment in a foreclosure cannot be used against a person in possession who was not a party to the case, other than someone bound by the lis pendens. If you were not named, the new owner generally must bring its own eviction case, called summary process, to remove you.

   Conn. Gen. Stat. § 49-22(a)

5. Extra protection for older and disabled tenants

   Buildings or complexes with 5 or more units

   If you or a family member living with you is 62 or older or has a qualifying disability, and you live in a building or complex with five or more units, a landlord can evict you only for reasons the law lists, such as nonpayment or the landlord's good faith plan to live there. Different rules apply in condo communities.

   Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-23c

6. Your deposit follows the property

   21 days after move-out or 15 days after you give your address

   A transfer by foreclosure moves the landlord's security deposit interest to the new owner, and that new owner is liable to return your deposit and interest when it comes due. Give your forwarding address in writing when you leave. A landlord who misses the deadline can owe twice the deposit.

   Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(a)(12), (c), (d), (e)

Common questions in Connecticut