Paying too much for rent? Worried about getting evicted for no reason?

Dozens of tenants demanded more protection from predatory landlords during a legislative hearing on Tuesday, including new limits on evictions and rent increases.

But property managers warned that the rules could make Connecticut’s severe housing shortage even worse.

Nick Bailey had to move out of his apartment in New London because a private-equity firm bought the building – and raised his rent by $625.

But after Bailey moved, the same group bought his new complex. He’s worried about it happening again when his lease ends.

“All these people care about is money. They don’t see people; they just see money,” he said. “These disgusting companies that come in and buy everything. Why is that permitted?”

Bailey urged Connecticut lawmakers to pass sweeping reforms.

Several bills would ban private equity groups from buying homes unless they are on the market for 75 days. And new owners could only raise rents 5% in the first year, unless they invest more than $50,000 in the property, under a separate proposal. Gov. Ned Lamont is proposing the limited rent cap.

Another bill would let cities and towns ban rent increases for properties with multiple building code violations.

Tenants also want security deposits capped at one month’s rent and a ban on evictions except for specific reasons.

Unless you are at least 62 years old or have a disability, when your lease is up your landlord can ask you to leave with 90 days' notice.

“If there’s an eviction notice, as it currently stands, you can be evicted for anything,” said Rhett Tock, a renter from Hartford. “They don’t have to disclose why.”

But property managers pushed back, arguing that the new rules would drive landlords out of the rental market – driving up rents and making it harder for applicants with bad credit to find housing.

“People are going to raise their credit score requirements and look at things like earnings,” said Bob DeCosmo with the Property Owners Alliance. “It’s going to put marginal tenants at risk of being homeless.”

Others said that limiting rent increases would discourage investors from buying, and fixing up, dilapidated buildings.

“What’s going to happen is, it's going to be much more difficult for some person looking to sell their distressed building to a potential buyer,” said state Sen. Rob Sampson (R-Wolcott), who is also a property manager. “You’re going to see these buildings just continue to become more and more distressed, and you're going to have a harder time having buyers because they don't want to enter a marketplace that's hostile.”

You can weigh-in on each these bills HERE. They will likely undergo changes before a vote in the General Assembly’s Housing Committee in the coming weeks.

The proposals face an uphill battle. Lawmakers have rejected similar bills for the past several years.