Section 8 in Hartford, CT: Rent Limits and Housing Authorities
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metro area. FY2027 Fair Market Rents, active voucher counts, the housing authorities that run the program here, and whether landlords can legally refuse a voucher. Every figure comes straight from HUD data.
Fair Market Rent by bedroom count
HUD rent benchmarks for FY2027, effective October 1, 2026. These are not adopted housing-authority payment standards or household subsidy amounts. The illustration shows 90% to 110% of FMR; ZIP-based schedules, approved exceptions and Moving to Work rules can differ.
| Bedrooms | FMR | Illustration: 90% to 110% of FMR |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $1,346 | $1,211 to $1,481 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,543 | $1,389 to $1,697 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,933 | $1,740 to $2,126 |
| 3-bedroom | $2,303 | $2,073 to $2,533 |
| 4-bedroom | $2,542 | $2,288 to $2,796 |
The two-bedroom HUD benchmark for Hartford is $1,933. Multiplying by 90% and 110% gives $1,740 to $2,126, not an approval range. Gross rent includes the applicable allowance for tenant-paid utilities. Your agency must calculate assistance using its adopted standard, your household and the proposed unit.
What changed from FY2026 to FY2027 in Hartford
HUD's two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metro rose from $1,865 in FY2026 to $1,933 in FY2027, a change of +$68 a month (+3.6%). FY2027 figures took effect on October 1, 2026.
| Bedrooms | FY2026 | FY2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $1,286 | $1,346 | +$60 (+4.7%) |
| 1-bedroom | $1,477 | $1,543 | +$66 (+4.5%) |
| 2-bedroom | $1,865 | $1,933 | +$68 (+3.6%) |
| 3-bedroom | $2,236 | $2,303 | +$67 (+3.0%) |
| 4-bedroom | $2,537 | $2,542 | +$5 (+0.2%) |
The FMR is not what the voucher pays. Each housing authority sets its own payment standard. The basic range is 90% to 110% of the applicable FMR or SAFMR, with exceptions and Moving to Work policies that may differ. A HUD effective date is not a household rent-change notice. Confirm the adopted schedule and its application to your lease or reexamination with your agency.
Already renting with a voucher in Hartford? Under standard HCV rules, once the housing authority raises its payment standard, the higher amount must be used for your subsidy no later than the earliest of three dates: a rent increase that would raise your share, your next regular or interim reexamination, or one year after the increase took effect (24 CFR 982.505(c)(4)). Confirm any applicable Moving to Work policy with your agency.
Landlords: a higher FMR does not raise a contract rent by itself. You still request the increase from the housing authority, and the new rent has to pass its rent reasonableness review against comparable unassisted units.
Source: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 and FY2027, huduser.gov.
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Hartford, CT?
No. Connecticut law prohibits landlords from refusing a renter because they pay with a Section 8 voucher. That protection applies in Hartford, CT. If you were turned away for having a voucher, that refusal may be illegal.
Conn. Gen. Stat. §46a-64c (1989)
Covers Housing Choice Vouchers and state RAP/T-RAP; upheld twice by the Connecticut Supreme Court. PRRAC Appendix B (March 2026).
View statute →Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change, so verify current status before acting on a rejection or making a leasing decision.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does Section 8 pay for a 2-bedroom in Hartford?
- In the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metro, the FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,933 per month. For illustration, 90% to 110% of that benchmark is roughly $1,740 to $2,126. This is not an adopted payment standard or subsidy quote. ZIP schedules, approved exceptions and Moving to Work rules may differ. Gross rent includes the applicable allowance for tenant-paid utilities.
- What are the FY2027 Fair Market Rents in Hartford?
- HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents for the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metro, by bedroom size: studio $1,346, 1-bedroom $1,543, 2-bedroom $1,933, 3-bedroom $2,303, 4-bedroom $2,542. These are HUD benchmarks, not household subsidy amounts. Confirm whether your agency uses ZIP-based standards and which schedule applies to your unit.
- Did Section 8 rent limits change in Hartford for FY2027?
- The two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metro went from $1,865 in FY2026 to $1,933 in FY2027, an increase of $68 a month. FY2027 Fair Market Rents took effect on October 1, 2026. HUD's effective date does not automatically change a household's assistance. Ask your administering agency which adopted schedule and effective date apply to a new lease, move or reexamination.
Find Section 8 apartments in Hartford
VoucherMatch connects voucher holders with landlords who accept Section 8, and it is free for renters. The administering housing authority must approve the actual unit, rent and household assistance calculation.
Rent limits from HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rent data. Investor running the numbers? The RentalCalcs voucher analyzer uses this same dataset.