The Town of East Lyme’s Fair Rent Commission was established in 2024 for the purpose of controlling and eliminating excessive rental charges for housing accommodations within the Town of East Lyme (Villages of Niantic and Flanders). The East Lyme Fair Rent Commission has the power to decide whether or not a proposed rent increase is harsh and/or unconscionable.

For additional information about the Town of East Lyme’s Fair Rent Commission, you may contact frc@eltownhall.com.

  • Ordinance establishing the Fair Rent Commission
  • Who may file a complaint?
    • Only tenants may file a complaint with the Commission. Any tenant who live in East Lyme may file a complaint.
    • The Commission cannot accept complaints from:
      1) Tenants who owe back rent;
      2) tenants who have already signed leases agreeing to the requested rent; or
      3) tenants whose landlords have already begun legal eviction proceedings against them.
  • When should I file a complaint?
    • If a tenant in private rental housing is notified by the landlord of an excessive increase or a substantial decrease in major services, the tenant may call the Fair Rent Commission Facilitator to make an appointment to file a written complaint or to request a complaint form before the increase takes effect.
    • A tenant may file a written complaint form with the Commission within sixty (60) days after receiving such notice
    • A fair rent complaint cannot be filed after the date the increase is in effect, or you have signed the new lease.
  • What is considered in determining an excessive rental charge?
    • State law and local ordinance require all Fair Rent Commission members to consider 13 criteria in reaching a decision on each case. The criteria are as follows:
      • The rents charged for the same number of rooms in other housing accommodations in the same and in other comparable areas of the municipality;
      • The sanitary conditions existing in the housing accommodations in question;
        • The number of bathtubs or showers, flush water closets, kitchen sinks, and lavatory basins available to the occupants thereof;
      • Services, furniture, furnishings and equipment supplied therein;
      • The size and number of rooms contained therein;
      • Repairs necessary to make such accommodations reasonably livable for the occupants accommodated therein;
      • The amount of taxes and overhead expenses, including debt service, thereof;
      • Whether the accommodations are in compliance with the ordinances of the municipality and the general statutes relating to health and safety;
      • The income of the petitioner and the availability of accommodations;
      • The availability of utilities;
      • Damages done to the premises by the tenant, caused by other than ordinary wear and tear;
      • The amount and frequency of increases in rental charges;
      • Whether, and the extent to which, the income from an increase in rental charges has been or will be reinvested in improvements to the accommodations.
  • Who is the Fair Rent Commission?
    • The Commission is composed of 5 members and 3 alternates, all of whom are residents of East Lyme. The 5 regular members of the Commission consist of one landlord member, one tenant member and three citizen members.
  • What rent should I pay after I file a complaint?
    • When a tenant files a complaint, the tenant must continue to pay on time the amount of rent in effect at the time of filing the complaint. The failure of the tenant to pay the rent on time will result in the case being dismissed by the Commission.
    • The difference in rent will be held in the Town’s escrow account. A check with this amount will be due before the hearing is scheduled. The check will be processed according to the Commission’s decision.
  • What happens at the hearing?
    • Both parties are permitted to testify and present relevant evidence. Commissioners are able to ask questions.
    • Once the hearing has concluded, the Commission sets a time to review, discuss and consider the complaint as well as the evidence and testimony as presented at the hearing.
  • What does the Commission do after the hearing?
    • The Commission can decide that the rent increase is fair and order the tenant to pay it.
    • The Commission can decide that the rent increase is unfair and:
      a) Set the rent at a fair level and order the landlord to accept that amount
      or
      b) Decide that the rent increase must be phased-in gradually
      or
      c) Delay a rent increase until repairs are made.
  • What can I do if I do not agree with the Fair Rent Commission’s decision?
    • Both the tenant and the landlord have the right to appeal the Commission’s decision to the New London Superior Court if they feel they have legal grounds for an appeal.
  • Fair Rent Commission Complaint Form
    • Completed forms may be mailed to:
      • Fair Rent Commission
        Town of East Lyme
        PO Box 519
        Niantic, CT 06357

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