Fair Rent Commission
Legislative Reference:
State: CGS 7-148b through 7-148f, 47a-20 and 47a-23c(b).
Town: Code 9-31 through 9-47.
Other Bylaws and/or Rules of Procedure:
Type: Statutory and permanent.
Geographic Responsibility: Town of Groton.
History: Created by Ordinance #203, January 16, 1990; amended by Ordinance #209, August 7, 1990.
Powers and Duties:
General: The Commission controls and eliminates excessive rental charges for housing
accommodations within the Town.
Specific: The Commission is empowered to conduct such hearings and render orders and
decisions pursuant thereto. (Code 9-35)
The Commission makes studies and investigations into rentals charged, receives complaints and
communications concerning alleged excessive rental charges, conducts hearings, subpoenas
witnesses and documents, administers oaths, orders a housing code inspection, dismisses a
complaint based on failure to pay rent on time while the case is pending, determines whether an
existing rental charge with decrease in services or proposed increase is so excessive as to be
harsh and unconscionable, orders a reduction of any excessive rent, and establishes and deposits
into an escrow account rents in dispute.
The commission may request that the town attorney or other suitable person meet with the
parties, in a session closed to the public, to attempt to reconcile differences prior to initiating the
formal hearing process. (Code 9-37)
Appointing Authority: Town Council. (Code 9-33)
Term of Office: Three (3) years, staggered. (Code 9-34)