Worried About High Housing Rents In Southington? Tell The Town

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Local residents concerned about abnormally high housing rents might want to go to the Southington Town Council meeting Monday, Dec. 12.

That's because the council is hosting a public hearing on creating a new local commission whose sole purpose is to provide tenants with recourse if they're hit with steep rent hikes.

The hearing regarding an ordinance creating the Southington Fair Rent Commission is at 7 p.m. at the John Weichsel Municipal Center's assembly room, 196 Main St.

Last month, the council finalized a draft list of regulations forming the commission and sent it to town-hired attorneys for a legal review.

The council Nov. 14 discussed several small details associated with the draft and did some language tweaking before, ultimately, sending it out for legal review by consensus.

Two weeks later, Nov. 28, the council scheduled Monday's public hearing.

After the hearing is closed, the town could vote on it as soon as that night.

The draft ordinance outlines who can serve on the commission, for how long and what the commission will legally be allowed to do.

Among the highlights are:

• The purpose for the commission is to review and determine if a landlord inflicts "harsh and unconscionable rental charges for housing accommodations within the town."

• The commission would have five members and three alternates, all of whom shall be Southington residents and/or employees.

At least one should be a residential landlord and another a tenants. The appointed terms would be for four years.

• The commission would receive complaints from tenants and, following a hearing and subsequent investigation, could determine if the rent is fair or not and order it slashed, among other duties.

For the full draft of the proposed Southington Fair Rent Commission ordinance, click on this link.

From Nov. 28: 'Update: Southington Schedules Hearing To Create Fair Rent Commission'