There is hereby created a Fair Rent Commission
in accordance with Section 7-148b of the Connecticut General Statutes,
Revision of 1958, as amended. Said Commission shall have all the powers
and duties now or hereafter provided for fair rent commissions by
the Connecticut General Statutes.
The Commission's purpose is to afford a course
of appeal to those residents who feel that their rental charge is
so excessive as to be considered harsh and unconscionable.
Any person aggrieved by any order of the Commission
may appeal to the Superior Court for the County of Hartford. Any such
appeal shall be considered a privileged matter with respect to the
order of trial.
Any person who violates any order of rent reduction
or rent suspension by demanding, accepting or receiving an amount
in excess thereof while such order remains in effect and no appeal
pursuant to this order is pending or violates any other provisions
of this article or Section 47a-20 of the Connecticut General Statutes
or who refuses to obey any subpoena, order or decision of the Commission
pursuant thereto shall be fined not less than $25 nor more than $100
for each offense. If such offense continues for more than five days,
it shall constitute a new offense for each day it continues to exist
thereafter.
[Amended 3-4-2024]
At its initial meeting and on an annual basis
thereafter, the Commission shall elect from its membership a Chairperson,
a Vice Chairperson and a Secretary. In addition to any schedule for
regular meetings which such Commission may establish, any member of
the Commission may at any time request, in writing, that the Chairperson
call a special meeting, whereupon the Chairperson shall, within three
days after receipt of such request, call a special meeting for a time
within seven days after the date of the receipt of request of such
meeting. A quorum at any meeting shall consist of two members, and
the affirmative vote of two members shall be required for any action
to be taken.
The Fair Rent Commission has jurisdiction over
and this article applies to only those housing accommodations which
consist of two or more housing units or dwellings.
The Commission shall provide to the Town Council,
on an annual basis, a summary report on its activities for the prior
year.