Housing commission dismisses eviction complaint as moot after tenant moves out

The Middletown Housing Commission voted to dismiss an eviction-related complaint as moot after staff said the tenant had moved out and returned keys at the end of June.

Staff told the commission that the tenant had not signed the previously negotiated agreement, that the housing authority accepted returned keys and had not pursued a formal eviction, and recommended the commission dismiss the complaint because there was no ongoing case or controversy. "She turned in the keys at the end of June and has moved out of the apartment," the housing-authority director said.

Commissioners debated whether to deny the complaint because the tenant had not appeared at the noticed hearing or to dismiss it as moot. Counsel recommended dismissal in light of the tenant’s move, and a commissioner moved to dismiss; the motion was seconded and passed on voice vote with roll-call affirmation. The chair announced the motion passed.

The commission took no further remedial action in that matter; staff noted that dismissal followed the tenant’s departure and the absence of a pending eviction. The matter was recorded as dismissed and will not proceed to a contested hearing unless a party seeks to reopen it.