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Connecticut Notice to Tenants of Intent to Sell

Connecticut law sets no fixed statutory notice period for telling a tenant you intend to sell, though reasonable notice still applies before you show the unit. This AI drafting guide walks landlords through a clean, tenant-friendly notice, and attorney-review is available on every document.

Introduction

Getting a notice that your rental home is being sold can be unsettling, but in Connecticut, your rights as a tenant are well-protected. We want to clear up what this means for you. The law doesn't require a landlord to give a specific amount of notice before listing a property, but it does mandate that your current lease must be honored by the new owner. This guide is designed to help landlords create a clear, respectful notice that explains the process, from property showings to the transfer of your security deposit, ensuring a smooth and transparent experience for everyone involved.

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Key Things to Know

  1. 1

    In Connecticut, there isn't a strict law about how far in advance your landlord must tell you they're selling the property, so this notice is often a courtesy to keep you informed.

  2. 2

    The good news is that your lease doesn't just disappear. It travels with the property, meaning the new owner is legally required to honor all of its original terms.

  3. 3

    Your landlord can't just show up unannounced to show the place. They must give you 'reasonable notice,' which is usually considered 24 hours, and showings have to happen at sensible times.

  4. 4

    Seeing a 'For Sale' sign doesn't mean you have to pack your bags. A property sale is not an eviction notice, and your tenancy continues under the same rules as before.

  5. 5

    Don't look for a specific, state-mandated 'Notice of Intent to Sell' form, because Connecticut doesn't have one. A simple, clear letter from your landlord is the standard way to handle this.

  6. 6

    Your security deposit is safe. When the property sells, your deposit, along with any interest it has earned, is legally transferred from the seller to the new owner.

  7. 7

    Throughout the entire sale process, all your tenant rights, especially your right to the quiet enjoyment of your home, remain fully protected and in effect.

Key decisions before you file

Before you file a Notice to Tenants of Intent to Sell in Connecticut, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The Notice to Tenants of Intent to Sell guide walks through them.

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A Friendly Heads-Up: Our Intent to Sell Your Connecticut Rental Home

Date: ______________________

To our valued tenant (Tenant Name): ______________________

Regarding the property at: ______________________________________

From your landlord (Landlord/Owner Name): ______________________

Dear ______________________,

We're writing to you today with an important update about the property you currently rent. This letter is to let you know that we have decided to put the property on the market for sale. We understand that this news might bring up some questions, and our primary goal is to make this transition as clear and respectful for you as possible. Please think of this as a courtesy heads-up to keep you in the loop.

First and Foremost: Your Lease and Your Rights Are Protected

Let us start with the most important point: your current lease agreement remains completely valid and in full effect. Under Connecticut law, a property sale does not change the terms of your lease. The entire agreement simply transfers to the new owner, who will become your new landlord.

If you have a fixed-term lease, you have the right to remain in your home until the end of that term. The new owner must honor every part of that agreement. If you are on a month-to-month tenancy, it also continues under the new owner until either party gives proper notice to end it, following the standard legal procedures. It is important to know that this notice of sale is not a notice to move out. Any potential termination of tenancy in the future would have to follow Connecticut's formal "summary process," which legally begins with a "Notice to Quit" as outlined in Connecticut General Statutes § 47a-23.

How We'll Handle Property Showings

To sell the home, we will need to show it to potential buyers. We are committed to minimizing any disruption to your daily life. Connecticut law (specifically CGS § 47a-16) requires us to provide you with "reasonable notice" before entering, which is almost always understood to be at least 24 hours. We will also only schedule these visits at "reasonable times," meaning no late-night or surprise visits. Your right to quiet enjoyment of your home is something we take seriously.

To help us work around your schedule, could you let us know what works best for you?

  • General days/times that are best for showings: ______________________
  • Your preferred way for us to give you notice (e.g., email, text): ______________________

What Happens to Your Security Deposit?

Your security deposit is safe. As required by Connecticut law (§ 47a-21), at the time of the sale, your full security deposit, plus any interest it has accrued, will be transferred from us to the new owner. They will then be responsible for it, just as we have been. For your records, the current deposit we are holding is $______________________.

Continuing with Rent Payments

You can learn more or create your own version of this document by visiting our resource center: (/legal-document/notice-to-tenants-of-intent-to-sell).

Landlord Signature: ______________________

Contact Info (Phone/Email): ______________________

Disclaimer: This letter is intended to inform you of our intent to sell the property. It is not a notice to terminate your tenancy and should not be taken as legal advice. We recommend consulting with an attorney if you have specific legal questions about your rights.

Connecticut Requirements for Notice to Tenants of Intent to Sell

No Mandated Sale-Notice Period

Connecticut law does not mandate a specific notice period for a landlord to inform a tenant of an intent to sell. This written notice is a professional courtesy to facilitate cooperation, not a statutory requirement with a fixed deadline.

Reasonable Notice for Entry

Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-16, a landlord must provide reasonable notice before entering to show the unit. While not defined by statute, 24 hours is the commonly accepted standard. Entries must be at reasonable times.

Lease Transfers with Property

The existing lease agreement transfers to the buyer upon sale. The new owner becomes the landlord and must honor all terms of the lease, including the end date of a fixed-term tenancy.

Tenancy Termination Rules

A property sale does not automatically terminate a tenancy. To end a month-to-month tenancy, proper notice is required. Any eviction must follow the summary process, starting with a 'Notice to Quit' under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-23.

Security Deposit Transfer

The seller must transfer the tenant's security deposit, plus any accrued interest, to the new owner at closing. The new owner then assumes full responsibility for it under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21.

No Official State Form

Connecticut does not publish an official state-mandated form for a 'Notice of Intent to Sell' a residential rental property. A clear, comprehensive letter is sufficient.

Preservation of Tenant Rights

The tenant's rights under the lease and state law remain fully intact throughout the sale process. This includes the right to quiet enjoyment and protection from landlord harassment.

Written Recordkeeping

Deliver this notice in writing and retain a copy for your records. Similarly, document all notices for showings via email or text to create a clear timeline and prevent disputes over access.

Frequently Asked Questions

Connecticut sets no required notice period for the sale itself, so sending word ahead is courtesy rather than a legal duty. What the law does require is reasonable notice before I enter to show the unit, commonly read as 24 hours under the state's entry rules.

Section 47a-16 of the Connecticut statutes lets me enter to show the rental only after giving reasonable notice, which practice treats as at least 24 hours. I also keep showings to reasonable times of day so my tenant's right to quiet enjoyment stays intact.

No. When the property changes hands, the lease rides along with it. The buyer becomes my tenant's landlord and is bound to every term through the fixed-term end date. Selling doesn't strip my tenant of the right to stay under the current agreement.

I can't. An active lease is a binding contract, and planning to sell gives me no power to rewrite rent or terms mid-lease. In Connecticut the buyer inherits those same limits and must wait until the term ends before proposing any changes.

Connecticut issues no official form for a notice of intent to sell. Other landlord actions have set forms, but this one doesn't. A clear letter laying out my plans to sell and how showings will work meets the standard and is legally sufficient.

No rule forces me to reveal prospective buyers while the deal is pending. Once it closes, though, I do have to give my tenant the new owner's name and contact details promptly, so they know where to direct rent and questions going forward.

Because I want my tenant to feel informed, the notice states plainly that I intend to sell the property. It also walks through the way showings will be set up with them, and it confirms that an active fixed-term lease remains binding even after the building changes hands.

To make sure my tenant's copy can be documented, I rely on a delivery method that shows it landed. Personally delivering it, sending certified mail that returns a signed receipt, or using the delivery channel named in the lease each give me that confirmation.

My tenant keeps the same deposit protection after I sell, since the balance moves over to the purchaser at the moment of closing. Responsibility for safeguarding that money, and for paying it back when the lease term wraps up, then belongs to the new owner.