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The Ridge at Talcott Mountain, an apartment complex on former farmland on Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury, is an example of the newer trend toward multifamily construction in the suburbs. Credit: Stephen Busemeyer / CT Mirror

Yes.

Under Connecticut law, landlords must accept at least one method of payment — for rent or security deposits — that does not involve a service fee, like a check or a money order.

Digital rent payments, like those made online with a credit card, debit card or ACH transfer, often incur a processing fee. These service fees are usually between 1% and 3%. 

Sections 47a-4c of state law specifies landlords are prohibited from requiring electronic funds transfer as the exclusive form of payment for any lease or rental agreement executed on or after October 1, 2013. If a tenant wants to avoid service fees, a money order or a check can be used.

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Mariana Navarrete Villegas is a Community Engagement Reporter for The Connecticut Mirror, covering Hartford. She recently graduated from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism with a master’s degree in Bilingual Journalism. Previously, she was the Community Engagement and Video Assistant at Epicenter-NYC and a Podcast Intern at The Take, Al Jazeera English’s daily news podcast. As a reporter, she has covered stories from New York to Florida, California, Panama, and Mexico, focusing on labor rights, immigration, and community care. She also hosts 'La Chismesita,' a community radio show in New York that archives oral histories through conversations with women community leaders. Originally from Mexico, Mariana spent her teenage years in Panama. She holds a B.A. in Global Studies with a minor in Psychology from Saint Leo University, where she interned at the International Rescue Committee.