2005 Connecticut Code - Sec. 47a-52. (Formerly Sec. 19-88). Abatement of conditions in rented dwelling other than tenement house constituting danger to life or health.

      Sec. 47a-52. (Formerly Sec. 19-88). Abatement of conditions in rented dwelling other than tenement house constituting danger to life or health. (a) As used in this section, "rented dwelling" means any structure or portion thereof which is rented, leased, or hired out to be occupied as the home or residence of one or two families and any mobile manufactured home in a mobile manufactured home park which, although owned by its resident, sits upon a space or lot which is rented, leased or hired out, but shall not include a tenement house as defined in section 19a-355 or in section 47a-1.

      (b) "Department of health" means the health authority of each city, borough or town, by whatever name such health authority may be known.

      (c) When any defect in the plumbing, sewerage, water supply, drainage, lighting, ventilation, or sanitary condition of a rented dwelling, or of the premises on which it is situated, in the opinion of the department of health of the municipality wherein such dwelling is located, constitutes a danger to life or health, the department may order the responsible party to correct the same in such manner as it specifies. If the order is not complied with within the time limit set by the department, the person in charge of the department may institute a civil action for injunctive relief, in accordance with chapter 916, to require the abatement of such danger.

      (d) When the department of health certifies that any such rented dwelling or premises are unfit for human habitation, by reason of defects which may cause sickness or endanger the health of the occupants, the department may issue an order requiring the rented dwelling, premises or any portion thereof to be vacated within not less than twenty-four hours or more than ten days.

      (e) Any person who violates or assists in violating, or fails to comply with, any provision of this section or any legal order of a department of health made under any such provision shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than sixty days or both.

      (f) Any person aggrieved by an order issued under this section may appeal, pursuant to section 19a-229, to the Commissioner of Public Health.

      (1953, S. 2139d; P.A. 79-276, S. 1; 79-571, S. 72; P.A. 91-383, S. 21; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)

      History: P.A. 79-276 authorized institution of civil action for injunctive relief when order not complied with within set time limit; P.A. 79-571 divided section into Subsecs., added reference to Secs. 47a-1 and 47a-50 in Subsec. (a), reworded Subsec. (d) and added Subsec. (f) re appeals; Sec. 19-88 transferred to Sec. 47a-52 in 1981; P.A. 91-383 amended Subsec. (a) to include in definition of "rented dwelling" a mobile manufactured home which is owned by its resident but sits upon a rented space or lot; P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.

      See Sec. 47a-50 for allied definitions.

      Cited. 211 C. 501, 502, 506.

      Subsec. (e):

      Cited. 192 C. 207, 221.