Mayor Signs New Haven Ordinance Recognizing, Empowering Tenants' Union

NEW HAVEN, CT —A new city ordinance signed Tuesday by Mayor Justin Elicker officially recognizes and defines a tenants’ union in the City of New Haven. It empowers unions to collectively engage and assist the city’s Fair Rent Commission in its investigative role. Among the issues include proposed rent increases and conditions at properties containing 10 or more separate rental units that share a common location and ownership, while also recognizing the due process rights of landlords.

Elicker was joined by members of the New Haven Board of Alders, Fair Rent Commission Executive Director Wildaliz Bermudez, tenants and tenants’ rights advocates, and other city officials for the bill signing ceremony.

While tenants’ union are mentioned in Connecticut state statutes, they are not currently defined or discussed anywhere else in existing state law or in the City of New Haven Ordinances, it's noted by the Mayor's office.

"The new city ordinance is believed to be the first of its kind in Connecticut and, upon passage, will extend to a minimum of 10,000 housing units within the City of New Haven," the announcement from Elicker reads.

The ordinance was originally submitted by Elicker to the Board of Alders June 6. It then passed out of the Legislation Committee July 18, and was passed by the full Board of Alders Sept. 6.

After Tuesday's bill signing, the Fair Rent Commission is set to review the proposed rules and regulations related to the ordinance at its upcoming meeting on Oct. 18.

Read the ordinance here:

Tenants Union Ordinance Or-... by Ellyn Santiago