Tenants can file an electronic complaint to the Stamford Department of Health & Human Services by clicking "Submit a Fair Complaint". Should you need assistance completing the electronic form, you may contact the department at (203) 977 - 4399, Option 2 for Housing Services. You can also visit us at the Stamford Government Center, located at 888 Washington Blvd., 8th Floor, Stamford, CT 06901 on Monday - Friday, between 9:30am - 3:30pm. Please Note: This excludes all City observed holidays. 

After submitting a Fair Rent Complaint, here's what happens: 

• Complaint is processed: A member of the Department of Health & Human Services' team will process your complaint and assign you a reference number. 
• Initial Review: The Director of Housing Services will review your complaint to determine if it is: 
  • A valid complaint 
  • Missing information 
  • Not eligible under the Fair Rent criteria
• Mediation Attempt: If the complaint is valid, an attempt for mediation will be arranged by department staff between the tenant and landlord. 
  • If no agreement is reach, the complaint moves to a hearing before the Social Services Commission.
  • Either party may skip mediation and request a hearing instead. 
• Decision Notification: After an agreement is made or the Commission reaches a decision, a written notice of the outcome will be sent to both the tenant and the landlord. 
• Appeal Option: If either party is not satisfied with the Social Services Commission ruling, they may appeal to the Superior Housing Court within 30-days of written notice. 

"Rent control" sets a fixed maximum rent for apartments - but rent control does not exist in Connecticut. Landlords are not regulated in the dollar amount or percentages of rental charges. However, Stamford, Connecticut has a Social Services Commission which reviews Fair Rent Complaints. Hearings are held by the commission to determine if the rent is fair, by using Excessive Rent Determinant guidelines. 

It's important to note: The Social Services Commissions cannot set rent for vacant apartments, adjust rent in public housing complexes, or get involved if a tenant hasn't filed a formal complaint. 

The Commission looks at factors to decide if a rent amount is too high or unfair (offer referred to as "harsh and unconscionable" under Connecticut law). They consider things like:.

1. Comparable apartments cost in the area 
2. Condition and Cleanliness of the unit 
3. Number of bathroom and kitchen facilities available to the tenant
4. Furniture and services included (if any)
5. Size and number of bedrooms 
6. Repairs needed to make the unit livable 
7. Costs to the landlord, such as taxes and loan payments 
8. Whether the unit meets health & safety codes
9. Tenant's income and housing options available
10. Whether utilities are included 
11. Any damages caused by the tenant beyond normal wear and tear
12. Frequency and how much the rent has increased in the past
13. Whether rent increase are being used to improve the property. 

Once the Commission decides what a fair rent is, they issue a written decision that sets the rent amount and how long it will last. Both the Landlord and tenant receive a copy. During that time, the tenant must pay, and the landlord must accept, the set amount. If either party disagrees with the decision, they can appeal to the Superior Housing Court within 30-days of the decision. 

A tenant may file a Fair Rent Complaint if any of the following situations apply: 

1. The rent is raised significantly, making it much higher than what other tenants are paying for similar apartments in the area. 
2. A major service has been reduced or removed, such as heat, hot water, or maintenance - something that lowers the apartment's rental value. 
3. The rent increase seems retaliatory, meaning it may be in response to the tenant: 
   • Requesting repairs
   • Filing a health, safety, or housing code complaint 
   • Taking any other action the landlord didn't like 

If you believe your situation fits one of the above items, you may qualify to file a Fair Rent Complaint. 

While your complaint is being reviewed, you must continue paying rent on time and at the same amount that was in effect when you filed the complaint. 

• Failure to pay rent on time, may result in the dismissal of your complaint. 
• If your Landlord refuses to accept the rent because of the complaint on file, you can arrange to pay the rent into an escrow account held by the commission. 

This helps protect your rights while the complaint is being resolved. 

The Fair Rent program is managed by the Director of Housing Services and is designed to assist tenants who believe: 

• Their rent has been increased unfairly 
• A service (such as heat, water, or maintenance) has been reduced or removed 
• Their landlord is retaliating against them for making a complaint or request. 

The Social Services Commission supports this work by conducting hearings to receive, investigate, and resolve complaints to determine the outcome. 

A Fair Rent hearing is an informal, administrative process where both the tenant and landlord have a chance to share their version of events. 

Here how it works: 

1. The Director of Housing Services presents the City's investigation results.
2. Both the tenant and landlord may testify under oath and share any relevant documents or evidences. 
3. Social Services Commissioners may ask questions at any time during the hearing.

After the hearing ends, the Commission will meet separately to review all evidence & testimony, and make a decision. 

If a tenant claims retaliation and the issue can't be resolved by agreement, the Social Service Commission will: 

1. Investigate the complaint 
2. Hold a hearing to review the evidence

If the Commission finds that the Landlord's actions were retaliatory, it can issue an order requiring the landlord to stop the retaliatory behavior, also known as a "cease and desist" order. 

The Commission cannot accept Fair Rent Complaints in the following situations:

1. The tenant owes back rent
2. The tenant has already signed a lease agreeing to the new rent amount 
3. The landlord has already started legal eviction proceedings against the tenant 

If any of the above mentioned applies, the Commission is not allowed to move forward with the complaint.