Vermont Tenant Harassment Laws

Vermont expressly prohibits landlord retaliation under Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 9, section 4465 -- a landlord may not retaliate against a tenant who complains to a government agency about a violation, complains to the landlord of a violation, or organizes or joins a tenant union.

Key Rules

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

Some citations below have not been confirmed against their official source. Confirm current requirements with local legal aid or an attorney.

Applicable Statutes

Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 9, § 4465

Retaliatory conduct prohibited: landlord may not retaliate against a tenant — by changing rental agreement terms or bringing/threatening an eviction action — because the tenant complained to a government agency about a building, housing, or health violation, complained to the landlord of a violation of this chapter, or organized or joined a tenant union. A termination notice for reasons other than nonpayment, served within 90 days of a government notice of noncompliance, is rebuttably presumed retaliatory. A violation entitles the tenant to damages and attorney's fees and is a defense to a retaliatory eviction action.

Source confirmed · Official state source

View archived excerpt
“…enience. Title 9 : Commerce and Trade Chapter 137 : Residential Rental Agreements Subchapter 002 : RESIDENTIAL RENTAL AGREEMENTS (Cite as: 9 V.S.A. § 4465) § 4465. Retaliatory conduct prohibited (a) A landlord of a residential dwelling unit may not retaliate by establishing or changing terms of a rental…”

Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 9, § 4469

Retaliatory conduct prohibited: landlord may not retaliate against tenant for reporting code violations, joining a tenant organization, or exercising legal rights under the chapter.

Not confirmed against its source · checked

Legal Aid Resources

Vermont Tenants

802-864-0099

Vermont statewide

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