Vermont Tenant Rights
Vermont landlord-tenant law is governed by Title 9, Chapter 137 of the Vermont Statutes (Vt.
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Key Laws by Topic
Eviction Laws
- Nonpayment Notice:
- 14 days written notice to pay rent or vacate
- Periodic Tenancy Notice:
- Notice equal to rental period (30 days for month-to-month)
- Just Cause Required:
- No statewide just-cause requirement, but prohibited retaliatory and discriminatory evictions
- Rent Control:
- No statewide rent control
Security Deposit Laws
- Limit:
- 2 months' rent maximum
- Return Deadline:
- 14 days after termination of tenancy
- Itemization Required:
- Yes — written itemized statement of deductions required
- Interest Required:
- No statewide requirement
- Bad Faith Penalty:
- Tenant may recover deposit plus damages for bad-faith withholding; court may award double damages
Repair & Habitability Laws
- Repair And Deduct:
- Not expressly authorized by Vermont statute
- Rent Withholding:
- Tenant may pay rent into court escrow pending necessary repairs (rent escrow remedy)
- Notice Required:
- Written notice to landlord required before exercising remedies
- Habitability Standards:
- Structural safety, weatherproofing, heating, plumbing, electrical, clean conditions
Tenant Harassment Laws
- Self Help Prohibited:
- Yes — lockouts, utility shutoffs, and removal of belongings without court order prohibited
- Retaliation Prohibited:
- Yes — explicit prohibition on retaliatory conduct
- Remedies:
- Actual damages, injunctive relief, and attorney's fees available
- Penalty:
- Court may award additional damages for willful violations
Notice & Entry Laws
- Notice Required:
- 48 hours advance notice required for non-emergency entry
- Permissible Entry Reasons:
- Repairs, inspections, showing unit to prospective tenants or buyers, emergencies
- Emergency Entry:
- Permitted without advance notice for genuine emergencies
- Time Of Entry:
- Reasonable times only
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