Housing

SB 335 prohibits landlords from charging tenants extra for utilities (like heat or electricity) if the rental unit lacks an individual meter for those services. It directly affects tenants in residential rental properties where utilities are included in rent but not separately metered. The bill amends rental agreement laws to make any clause requiring such payments unenforceable. Landlords must now charge only for utilities when a tenant has a dedicated meter, preventing "pass-through" fees for shared building systems. This takes effect October 1, 2026.

HB 5362 revises Connecticut's affordable housing laws to implement recommendations from the Majority Leader's Roundtable. It defines key terms like "affordable housing development" (including "set-aside developments" requiring 30% of units to be priced at ≤30% of income for 40 years, with 15% reserved for lower-income households) and clarifies the role of housing commissions. The bill creates a streamlined appeal process for developers whose affordable housing applications are denied or restricted, directing such cases to specialized judges in the relevant judicial district for expedited review. This law directly affects housing developers, municipalities, and housing commissions by setting new affordability standards and changing how disputes over housing applications are resolved.