The Case for the “Just Cause” Bill

(Opinion)

By Taj Galberth

How bill S.B.#257 could potentially secure renter’s rights

One of the first things a new renter may realize after signing their first lease, particularly here in Connecticut, is how little power they hold over their place of residence.

With consistent complaints of poor maintenance, neglectful or outright hostile management, and skyrocketing rent prices like the harrowing story of disabled school board member Albert Benejan Grajales, published in the Connecticut Post. Tenants currently have almost no recourse when their entire lives are uprooted.

This is why Fable Burley, a lead organizer for Trans Haven (a trans centered and led

organization which provides resources for the trans community) states they are collaborating

with the CT Tenant’s Union to push for the passing of bill S.B. #257, or “Just Cause”.

Just Cause is an eviction reform bill that would extend protections that already exist for elderly renters to all, requiring landlords to give legitimate reason for eviction. Burley believes this will forge a path forward for tenants to demand better living conditions.

“My partner used to live in an apartment owned by Mandy Management” said Burley, “Her

apartment building regularly lost heat during the Winter, had a leaky roof, mold, and infestations. The landlord ignored all her calls and complaints for over a year.”

“Companies like Mandy Management feel empowered to ignore the horrible living conditions of their tenants because they know they can evict any tenant who speaks up too loudly, or tries to organize to demand better conditions, at a moment's notice” said Burley.

Recent data collected by Princeton University’s Eviction Lab showed that in Connecticut, 1 out

of every 25 tenants faced eviction last year. An even more startling metric from the Partnership for Strong Communities (PSC) showed that between 2018 and 2023, there was a whopping 24% increase in no-fault evictions, or evictions without a given reason.

These evictions disproportionately impact marginalized communities and can potentially act as a loophole for landlords to discriminate without consequence. With the PSC data showing that Black and Latino renters are 2 to 3 times more likely to face eviction than their white

counterparts, Just Cause could be protection that is needed.

“Just Cause will protect us from discrimination”, Burley states. “As long as landlords aren’t

required to file a legitimate reason for evictions, they are free to violate CT anti-discrimination

laws with little consequence.”

While Burley, Trans Haven, and the CT Tenant’s Union see Just Cause as necessary reform,

landlords have stood in strong opposition to the bill. According to the CT Mirror, landlords fear that Just Cause “would make it harder to report problem tenants”.

Either way, Just Cause will be discussed once again by the Housing Committee during their

February 24th legislative session. Though it’s been struck down repeatedly, members of both

Trans Haven and the CT Tenant’s Union will testify in support as they’ve done in the past and

urge other renters to do the same.