Connecticut Late Fee Rules: The 9-Day Grace Period Explained

Connecticut law: Rent is not legally late until the 10th day of the month for monthly leases. Late fees are capped at $5 per day OR 5% of the overdue rent — whichever is less. Maximum cap: $50 per incident.

The 9-Day Grace Period

If rent is due on the 1st of the month, you cannot charge a late fee until the 10th. This applies to standard monthly leases. For week-to-week leases, the grace period is 4 days. That's the law — it doesn't matter what your lease says.

Here's where landlords get burned: if your lease has a "late fee after the 5th" clause, that clause is unenforceable in Connecticut. The statutory grace period overrides any lease language that shortens it.

The Fee Cap — How to Calculate It

Once rent is officially late (day 10 or later), you can charge the lesser of:

• $5 per day that rent remains unpaid, up to a maximum of $50 per incident
• 5% of the total overdue rent amount

Example: Rent is $1,800/month. The tenant pays on day 15 — 5 days late. At $5/day that's $25. 5% of $1,800 is $90. You charge the lesser: $25. Not the $100 flat fee many landlords still use — which is illegal.

Is Your Late Fee Legal?

• $50 flat fee on the 5th — ILLEGAL (too early, exceeds cap)
• $100 flat fee on the 10th — ILLEGAL (exceeds cap)
• $5/day starting the 10th, capped at $50 — LEGAL
• 5% of overdue rent starting the 10th — LEGAL (if less than $5/day amount)
• Charging late fees on unpaid late fees (pyramiding) — ILLEGAL

Why This Matters for Evictions

If you've been charging illegal late fees and a tenant contests an eviction, those improper fees undermine your case. A tenant's attorney will argue the amount you claim is overstated — and they're right. Connecticut housing courts see this constantly.

No Pyramiding — Ever

Connecticut explicitly prohibits charging late fees on top of previously unpaid late fees. You can add a new late fee to a new month's unpaid rent, but you cannot compound old late fees.

A professional CT property manager builds compliant fee structures into every lease and enforces them consistently — avoiding the eviction complications that illegal late fees create. PropMatchCT can match you with a vetted local firm.