The Connecticut Advisory Council on Housing Matters was created in 1978 as part of the original Housing Court Act to provide citizens with a formal mechanism to review and comment on the manner in which the housing courts are functioning. The housing court system initially covered only the Judicial District of Hartford-New Britain. When a housing court for the New Haven and Waterbury areas was initiated in 1981, a separate advisory council was created for that housing court. In 1982, a third advisory council was established for the new Bridgeport-Norwalk Housing Court. In 1983, the three advisory councils were merged and expanded into the present Connecticut Advisory Council on Housing Matters, which is codified at Sections 47a-71a and 47a-72 of the Connecticut General Statutes.

Under these statutes, the Council is comprised of representatives of tenants, landlords, and others concerned with housing. Its membership is required to reflect “a balance of the interests of tenants and landlords.” The Council is charged, among other duties, with making the public aware of the existence of the state’s housing courts, reviewing the manner in which the housing courts are functioning, receiving comments from the general public about the handling of housing matters, and making such recommendations as it may choose. It submits a biennial report in January of the odd-numbered years.

Over the years, the Advisory Council has played a critical role in making the housing courts more accessible to the public. It was a pioneer in Connecticut in promoting the use of “pro se” forms so as to make it easier for litigants without lawyers to file court paperwork, and it has been a strong advocate for training court staff to provide assistance to litigants at housing court clerks’ offices. It has consistently encouraged the Judicial Branch to recognize, in the assignment of judges to the housing courts, the importance of selecting housing court judges with the patience and understanding needed to deal with “pro se” litigants. It has also sought the assignment of judges who have a fair and balanced view of landlord-tenant matters and who will approach landlord-tenant law as a serious body of law.

In addition, the Advisory Council has long promoted the effective enforcement of housing codes through the housing courts and the enhancement of housing law within the court system. It has played an important role in developing resource material for prosecutors, judges, and magistrates. For example, it wrote, researched, and periodically updates a book on housing issues that arise in the small claims courts (Housing Issues in the Small Claims Division of the Superior Court), which is now in its fourth edition. It has also helped the Chief State’s Attorney in the training of prosecutors and police officers through its involvement in the writing of the Criminal Housing Matters Prosecution Manual and the Police Officer Training Manual.

The Council meets quarterly and regularly enjoys the participation and involvement of the housing clerks, housing specialists (now called “housing mediators”), and housing prosecutors. The Council’s discussions range from court facilities to the judicial assignment process to technology issues.