Common Council Petition Seeks Answers To Commission’s Compliance With The Law In Handling Landlord and Tenant Rent Increase Disputes
By John McNamara
NEW BRITAIN – The Mayor’s Office “will be seeking formal changes to the rules and regulations of the Fair Rent Commission” to clarify the roles of housing and human rights and opportunities employees in the fair rent commission process.”
The possible administrative changes were outlined in a response to a petition by Alderman Aram Ayalon (D-3) who asked “why the City has not followed the law by ensuring the City’s Fair Rent Commission meets, issues minutes, establishes community hearings, and ensures the commission uses its authority to give rental relief.”
Mayoral Chief of Staff Justin Dorsey pushed back on Alderman Ayalon stating it is “extremely disingenuous to infer that the City has “not followed the law” when it comes to the Fair Rent Commission, especially when it is evident that the author (Ayalon) is unaware of the process.”
Ayalon’s petition springs from concerns that the Fair Rent Commission rarely meets and handles very few if any cases to resolve rent disputes between landlords and tenants. The most recent commission minutes date back to 2020, according to the Town and City Clerk’s office.
The Mayor’s office confirmed that no cases were heard by the commission in 2022. “There were eleven complaints filed pertaining to fair rent, with six of the complaints being resolved, five still in the mediation process, and none choosing to go to the Fair Rent Commission.”
Dorsey explained excessive rent increase complaints now go to the Human Rights and Opportunities office and are currently being handled administratively without automatically going to the commission whose nine appointed members, according to statute, include three tenants, three landlords and three property owners. If it is determined that the case meets the parameters as spelled out by ordinance, “mediation efforts led by the City’s Human Rights and Opportunities Officer” begin. Without a resolution in mediation “the Fair Rent Commission also serves as the final say from the City when determining rent disputes for landlords and their tenants.”
The Mayor’s office is working on the “formal changes” to send to the Fair Rent Commission that was scheduled to meet on Thursday, February 24th but Dorsey informed the Council no commission meeting will be held because there is “no business before them.”
Under questioning by Ayalon Dorsey did not say what the timetable is for “formal changes” but indicated the roles of the Homeless Prevention and Housing Coordinator, the Commission administrator and Human Rights and Opportunities Officer will be “clearly delineated.” Human Rights and Opportunities Officer Jerrell Hargraves, a Ward Two Alderman, is currently the contact person for residents with a complaint about excessive rent increases or to mediate disputes. Hargraves also serves as the City’s affirmative action officer and monitors the City’s Affirmative Action Plan as the administrator of the Human Rights and Opportunities office. Information on the Fair Rent Commission on the City’s website is scant except for the code of ordinance and posting of meetings when they occur. As of February 22nd it was not listed with other boards and commissions in municipal government.
The Fair Rent Commission and the Mayor’s Office report was on the agenda for the February 22nd (Wednesday) Common Council meeting.
The Fair Rent Commission was created in 2012 in New Britain under state enabling legislation and incorporated into the city’s Code of Ordinances. The ordinance empowers the commission “to make studies and investigations, to conduct hearings and receive complaints relative to rental charges on housing accommodations, to ensure that rental charges “are not harsh and unconscionable,” thus creating a fair and equal process for the tenant and landlord; compelled by the need for habitable and rent stabilized housing stock in the city of New Britain.”
As the Stewart administration looks to overhaul its “fair rent” process the Connecticut Legislature is considering a range of proposals to address an affordable housing crisis including a 2.5 to 3% cap on rents in non-owner occupied housing that drew a marathon day of testimony at the General Assembly’s Housing Committee. on February 21st. Advocates for the rent stabilization cite low vacancy rates, higher evictions, homelessness and excessive rent hikes that are occurring in the aftermath of the pandemic in cities such as New Britain.
(Editor’s Note: The story has been updated with information from the 2/22 Common Council meeting)
