Vermont Rental Lease Agreement Templates (6)

The state of Vermont does not mandate any disclosures within a leasing contract. Although there are no obligations to disclose on a state level, the U.S. Federal Government will necessitate that any residence constructed before 1978 include a declaration of the dangers of possible lead-paint subjection. The lead-based paint disclosure should consist of the EPA materials on the subject as well as attached disclosure statement within the written lease agreement (42 U.S. Code § 4852d).

Grace Period: Vermont sets the due date according to the lease, therefore leaving grace periods to landlord-tenant negotiations (9 V.S.A. § 4455(a)).

Unpaid Rent: Landlords give 14 days’ notice to pay or quit once the rent becomes delinquent (9 V.S.A. § 4467(a)).

Vermont does not limit late fees, thus allowing landlords and tenants to determine appropriate penalties in the lease.

Landlords use a 30-day notice to explicitly inform tenants of the rent payment’s denial for insufficient funds, allowing them:

• To seek the payment amount on the check, as well as postage and bank fees
• To apply an additional $50 in litigation fees, specifically, in cases where the tenant ignores the original notice (9 V.S.A. § 2311).

The security deposit is set by the lease while Vermont regulates its return requirements (9 V.S.A. § 4461).

Returning To Tenant: Vermont landlords hold an obligation to return security deposits within 14 days once the tenant vacates the property (9 V.S.A. § 4461).

Itemized List: Landlords must also supply tenants with an account statement identifying each deduction from security ((9 V.S.A. § 4461(c)), (9 V.S.A. § 4461(d)).

Standard Entry: Landlords enter with consent during the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. after giving 48 hours’ notice (9 V.S.A. § 4460).

Emergency Entry: Landlords may access or enter the residence without consent whenever an emergency response is necessary (9 V.S.A. § 4460).

Vermont allows landlords to determine a tenant’s abandonment of property so long as 3 criteria are met:

• Details, such as a significant removal of furniture, are visible
• The rent is in default
• The landlord, through reasonable efforts, cannot contact the tenant or solidify their intent to stay (9 V.S.A. § 4462(a)).

Vermont explicitly allows tenants to deduct ½ months’ rent to repair qualifying issues violating the lease; however:

• They must give 30 days’ notice to repair to the landlord
• The notice expires with no remedy or landlord action
• They provide notice of the cost of the deduction (9 V.S.A. § 4459).

Duty to Mitigate: Vermont does not require landlords to; however, once re-rented, abandoning tenants are only liable for past rent (9 V.S.A. § 4462(b)).

Domestic Violence: Vermont domestic violence victims terminate leases with 30 days’ notice and supporting evidence of imminent danger (specifically, a court order, police report) (9 VT Stats § 4472).

Active Military: Service members enjoy federal protection whenever they issue 30 days’ notice to terminate as a result of assignments (50 USC 3955).

Landlord Noncompliance: Tenants may not abandon property for noncompliance, but may (when appropriate) repair and deduct or seek court intervention. ((9 V.S.A. § 4458), (9 V.S.A § 4459))

Landlord Harassment: Tenants seek court intervention and other (appropriate) legal remedies whenever facing ongoing harassment (9 V.S.A. § 4463).

Inhabitability: Tenants issue a “reasonable” notice to remedy a habitability issue significantly impacting their health and terminate if there is no remedy (9 V.S.A. §§ 4458(a)), 9 V.S.A. § 4451).

Vermont only considers a lease with a term that is one year or less a valid agreement. ((9 V.S.A. § 4451(8)), ((12 V.S.A. § 181(4)).

While Vermont does not prohibit rent control, it does require that landlords provide tenants 60-day actual notice before increasing rent (9 V.S.A. § 4455(b)).

Vermont only requires landlords to store tenant property while providing tenants 60 days’ notice to pick up the property before disposal (9 V.S.A. § 4462(c)).

The statutory ordinances pertaining to the legalities of lessee and lessor interplay are set forth by the Vermont Statutes Annotated in the section titled Residential Rental Agreements (9 V.S.A. § 4451 – 4469a).