VT
Vermont Landlord-Tenant Laws
Security Deposit Limits in Vermont
⏰ Timeline
As specified by law
✅ Key Requirements
- No statewide maximum on security deposit amounts
- Burlington limits deposits to 1 month's rent (+ 0.5 month for pets)
- Brattleboro limits deposits to 1 month's rent
- Local ordinances may impose stricter limits than state law
- Landlords must check municipal regulations
Security Deposit Storage in Vermont
⏰ Timeline
As specified by law
✅ Key Requirements
- No statewide requirement for separate accounts
- No statewide interest requirement
- Burlington requires interest-bearing account with passbook rate
- Brattleboro and Barre require interest on deposits
- Interest belongs to tenant when deposit is returned
- +1 more requirements
Security Deposit Return Timeline in Vermont
⏰ Timeline
14 days after lease termination or as specified
✅ Key Requirements
- 14 days for standard residential rentals
- 60 days for seasonal/vacation rentals
- Must include written itemization of any deductions
- Can be hand-delivered or mailed to last known address
- Timeline starts when landlord discovers vacancy or receives notice
- +1 more requirements
Security Deposit Deductions in Vermont
⏰ Timeline
As specified by law
✅ Key Requirements
- Only four categories of permitted deductions
- Cannot deduct for normal wear and tear
- Cannot deduct for damage beyond tenant's control
- Must provide written itemized statement
- Deductions must be specific and documented
- +1 more requirements
Penalties for Withholding Security Deposit in Vermont
⏰ Timeline
30 days after lease termination or as specified
✅ Key Requirements
- Miss 14-day deadline = forfeit all withholding rights
- Willful withholding = 2x damages + attorney fees + costs
- Burlington/Brattleboro have Housing Board of Review option
- Small claims limit is $5,000
- Tenant must file within applicable deadlines
- +1 more requirements
Move-In/Move-Out Inspections in Vermont
⏰ Timeline
As specified by law
✅ Key Requirements
- Not required statewide, but required in Burlington
- Both parties should sign and retain copies
- Should document all pre-existing damage
- Photos/video recommended as additional evidence
- Critical for security deposit dispute prevention
- +1 more requirements
Rent Increase Notice Requirements in Vermont
⏰ Timeline
As specified in lease or by statute
✅ Key Requirements
- Minimum 60 days' written notice required
- Increase must take effect on first day of rental period
- Cannot increase during fixed-term lease without lease provision
- No limit on amount of increase (no rent control)
- Notice must be in writing
- +1 more requirements
Application Fees Prohibited in Vermont
⏰ Timeline
As specified by law
✅ Key Requirements
- Application fees completely prohibited for residential rentals
- Landlords may charge actual cost of background/credit checks
- Must accept tenant-provided credit reports
- Must accept portable screening reports
- Cannot duplicate screening if tenant provides recent reports
- +1 more requirements
Late Rent and Late Fees in Vermont
⏰ Timeline
As specified by law
✅ Key Requirements
- No statutory maximum on late fee amounts
- Fees must be "reasonable" and related to actual costs
- Industry standard: $20 or 20% after 5 days
- Late fees must be specified in lease agreement
- Rent is due on date specified in lease
- +1 more requirements
Eviction for Nonpayment of Rent in Vermont
⏰ Timeline
14 days after lease termination or as specified
✅ Key Requirements
- Minimum 14 days' written notice required
- Notice must state amount owed and termination date
- Tenant can pay anytime within 14 days to cure
- Partial payment doesn't waive landlord's rights
- Must file court action within 60 days of termination date
- +1 more requirements
Eviction for Lease Violations in Vermont
⏰ Timeline
30 days after lease termination or as specified
✅ Key Requirements
- Minimum 30 days' written notice for lease violations
- Notice must specify the breach and termination date
- No cure period required for most violations
- Shorter notice for weekly tenancies
- Must file court action within 60 days of termination date
- +1 more requirements
Eviction for Illegal Activity in Vermont
⏰ Timeline
14 days after lease termination or as specified
✅ Key Requirements
- 14 days' written notice required
- Notice is unconditional (no opportunity to cure)
- Applies to illegal/criminal activity on premises
- Includes drug activity, violence, property destruction
- Tenant must vacate within 14 days
- +1 more requirements
No-Cause Lease Termination in Vermont
⏰ Timeline
30 days after lease termination or as specified
✅ Key Requirements
- Written leases ≤2 years: 30 days before lease end
- Written leases >2 years: 60 days before lease end
- Oral month-to-month ≤2 years: 60 days
- Oral month-to-month >2 years: 90 days
- Notice must specify exact termination date
- +1 more requirements
Eviction Process Overview in Vermont
⏰ Timeline
As specified by law
✅ Key Requirements
- Must provide proper written notice first
- Cannot use self-help eviction (lockouts, utility shutoffs)
- Must file in Superior Court, Civil Division
- Filing deadline: 60 days from termination date
- Only sheriff/constable can physically remove tenant
- +1 more requirements
Illegal Eviction Actions in Vermont
⏰ Timeline
As specified by law
✅ Key Requirements
- Lockouts are illegal without court order
- Utility shutoffs prohibited
- Removing tenant property illegal
- Only court can authorize eviction
- Only law enforcement can remove tenants
- +1 more requirements
Implied Warranty of Habitability in Vermont
⏰ Timeline
As specified by law
✅ Key Requirements
- Safe, clean, and fit for habitation required
- Must comply with all building/housing/health codes
- Heating facilities must be safe and provide reasonable heat
- Hot and cold running water required
- Cannot waive habitability rights in lease
- +1 more requirements
Tenant Remedies for Habitability Violations in Vermont
⏰ Timeline
As specified by law
✅ Key Requirements
- Must materially affect health and safety
- Landlord must receive actual notice of problem
- Must allow reasonable time for repairs
- Can withhold rent during noncompliance period
- Can sue for damages, fees, and costs
- +2 more requirements
Repair and Deduct Rights in Vermont
⏰ Timeline
30 days after lease termination or as specified
✅ Key Requirements
- Only for minor defects, not major habitability issues
- Must give written notice to landlord
- Must wait 30 days before repairing
- Deduction cannot exceed 1/2 month's rent
- Must use actual and reasonable repair costs
- +1 more requirements
Landlord Entry Rights in Vermont
⏰ Timeline
As specified by law
✅ Key Requirements
- Minimum 48 hours' notice for non-emergency entry
- Entry only between 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM with notice
- Notice required for inspections, repairs, showings
- Emergency entry allowed without notice for imminent danger
- Tenant consent required outside these parameters
- +1 more requirements
Lease Termination by Tenant in Vermont
⏰ Timeline
As specified by law
✅ Key Requirements
- Month-to-month: one rental period notice required
- Notice must be in writing
- Fixed-term leases: typically expire without notice
- Early termination: tenant liable for remaining rent
- Landlord must attempt to mitigate damages by re-renting
- +1 more requirements
Domestic Violence Protections in Vermont
⏰ Timeline
30 days after lease termination or as specified
✅ Key Requirements
- 30 days' written notice required
- Must provide documentation from approved source
- Self-certification option available
- Applies to victims of abuse, sexual assault, or stalking
- Applies to parents/guardians of minor victims
- +2 more requirements
Retaliation Protections in Vermont
⏰ Timeline
As specified by law
✅ Key Requirements
- Cannot retaliate for exercising legal rights
- Cannot retaliate for reporting violations
- 6-month presumption period after protected activity
- Landlord must prove non-retaliatory reason
- Tenant can raise as defense to eviction
- +1 more requirements
Discrimination Protections in Vermont
⏰ Timeline
As specified by law
✅ Key Requirements
- 12 protected classes under state law
- 7 protected classes under federal law
- Cannot discriminate in advertising, showing, or renting
- Must provide reasonable accommodations for disabilities
- Source of income protection (public assistance)
- +1 more requirements
Abandoned Property in Vermont
⏰ Timeline
As specified by law
✅ Key Requirements
- Must store abandoned property for 60 days
- Must notify tenant of abandoned items
- Tenant can claim by paying storage costs
- After 60 days, landlord can dispose or sell
- Can deduct storage/removal costs from security deposit
- +1 more requirements
Legal Remedies for Tenants in Vermont
⏰ Timeline
30 days after lease termination or as specified
✅ Key Requirements
- Small claims for amounts up to $5,000
- Superior Court for amounts over $5,000
- Housing Board option in Burlington/Brattleboro/Barre
- Can recover attorney fees in many cases
- Legal Aid available for low-income tenants
- +1 more requirements
Local Ordinances in Vermont
⏰ Timeline
As specified by law
✅ Key Requirements
- Burlington, Brattleboro, Barre have stricter deposit limits
- Interest requirements in these municipalities
- Housing Boards of Review provide alternative dispute resolution
- Local ordinances can add but not reduce protections
- Landlords must comply with both state and local laws
- +1 more requirements
Landlord Duty to Mitigate in Vermont
⏰ Timeline
As specified by law
✅ Key Requirements
- Landlord must make reasonable efforts to re-rent
- Tenant liable for rent until unit re-rented
- Tenant liable for actual costs of finding new tenant
- Once re-rented, original tenant's liability ends
- Landlord cannot collect from both tenants simultaneously
- +1 more requirements
Health and Safety Requirements in Vermont
⏰ Timeline
As specified by law
✅ Key Requirements
- Must comply with Vermont Rental Housing Health Code
- Smoke detectors required on all levels
- Carbon monoxide detectors required
- Safe heating, water, electrical, plumbing required
- Town Health Officers can inspect and enforce
- +1 more requirements
Required Disclosures in Vermont
⏰ Timeline
As specified by law
✅ Key Requirements
- Lead paint disclosure required for pre-1978 properties
- Must provide EPA lead pamphlet
- Security deposit terms should be disclosed
- New landlord must notify tenant of ownership change
- Material defects affecting habitability should be disclosed
- +1 more requirements