NOTICE TO QUIT

In most cases, the first step to starting an eviction is serving the tenant with a Notice to Quit. Service of the Notice to Quit terminates the tenancy. The notice to quite must be unequivocale. Meaning it cannot be vague and must put the tenant on notice that their tenancy is terminated. The Notice to Quit must be served by an indifferent person, usually a State Marshal. In most cases, the Tenant will have three (3) days to leave the premises. The day that the Notice to Quit is served does not count and the move-out date does not count. There must be three full days in between those two dates. For Section 8 tenants, the time period required for non-payment of rent is five (5) full days and for other reasons as long as thirty (30) days. If the basis for the eviction is lapse of time then the Notice to Quit must give the Tenant until the end of the rental period to move.

Under Connecticut Law the reasons that a Tenant can be evicted are as follows:

1. Non-payment of rent
2. Lapse of Time
3. Violation of Lease
4. Never had the right or privilege to occupy
5. No Longer has the right or privilege to occupy

There are ways for the Attorney to draft the Notice to Quit so that the landlord may accept reasonable use and occupancy after service of the Notice to Quit AND be able to continue with the eviction action against the tenant.

If the Tenant does not leave after service of the Notice to Quit the next step is to the complaints and summons.