Source: https://www.landlordology.com/vermont-landlord-tenant-laws/
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 07:00:54+00:00

Document:
This article summarizes some key Vermont Landlord-Tenant laws applicable to residential rental units.
Security Deposit Maximum: No statute.
Security Deposit Interest: There is no statewide statute dictating interest accrued by a security deposit. However, towns and municipalities in Vermont are allowed to adopt ordinances authorizing the payment of interest. For more information, see 9 V.S.A. § 4461(g).
Separate Security Deposit Bank Account: No statute.
Deadline for Returning Security Deposit: Landlords must return the security deposit, along with a written statement explaining any deductions, within 14 days of the tenant vacating the rental unit. If a tenant is renting a unit seasonally, the security deposit and accompanying statement must be returned within 60 days (9 V.S.A. § 4461(c)).
expenses related to removing a tenant’s abandoned possessions (9 V.S.A. § 4461(b)).
Security Deposit can be Withheld: Yes.
Require Written Description/Itemized List of Damages and Charges: Yes, such a list must accompany the security deposit when it is returned to the tenant (9 V.S.A. § 4461(c)).
Failure to Comply: If landlords fail to return the deposit within 14 days, the landlord forfeits the right to withhold any part of the security deposit. And if landlords willfully fails to return the security deposit, landlords can be liable for twice the amount of the security deposit, plus attorney’s fees and related costs. (9 V.S.A. § 4461(e)).
Rent is Due: Rent is due without demand or notice on a date and location the parties agree to. (9 V.S.A. § 4455(a)).
Rent Increase Notice: Landlords must give 60 days’ notice before increasing rent (9 V.S.A. § 4455(b)).
Late Fees: There is no state statute regarding late fees. However, the 1991 Vermont Supreme Court ruling in Highgate Associates, Ltd. v. Lorna Merryfield established a prohibition against late fees that are charged as penalties. Late fees charged as actual compensation for costs incurred by landlords as a result of late rent payments are the only acceptable situations in which a late fee can be charged.
Application Fees: Application fees are prohibited by state law (9 V.S.A. § 4456(a)).
Returned Check Fees: No statute.
Tenant Allowed to Withhold Rent for Failure to Provide Essential Services (Water, Heat, etc.): Yes. Tenants can withhold rent for major health code violations after they’ve given notice to the landlord regarding the violation and the landlord has not made the necessary repair or alteration. Tenants can also seek injunctive relief and recover damages, costs and reasonable attorney’s fees (9 V.S.A. § 4458).
Tenant Allowed to Repair and Deduct Rent: If landlords fail to make minor repairs within 30 days of being notified of the need for the repair by the tenant, tenants can conduct the repairs and deduct the cost from the monthly rent. The deduction cannot exceed one-half of a month’s rent. The tenant must provide the landlord with information regarding the cost of the repair when rent is being deducted (9 V.S.A. § 4459(a)).
Landlord Allowed to Recover Court and Attorney’s Fees: Yes (9 V.S.A. § 4456(e)).
Landlord Must Make a Reasonable Attempt to Mitigate Damages to Lessee, including an Attempt to Re-rent: No, however, if the landlord rents the dwelling unit before the expiration of the rental agreement, the agreement terminates on the date of the new tenancy. (9 V.S.A. § 4462).
Notice to Terminate Tenancy – Fixed End Date in Lease: There is nothing in statute, but typically, no notice is needed since the lease simply expires.
Notice to Terminate a Periodic Lease – Month-to-Month: At least 30 days (9 V.S.A. § 4467(e)).
Notice to Terminate a Periodic Lease – Week-to-week: 21 days (9 V.S.A. § 4467(c)(2)).
Notice to Terminate Lease due to Sale of Property: 30 days (9 V.S.A. § 4467(d)).
Notice of date/time of Move-Out Inspection: No statute.
Eviction Notice for Nonpayment: 14 days (9 V.S.A. § 4467(a)).
Eviction Notice for Lease Violation: 30 days notice for lease violations; 14 days notice if the eviction notice is due to criminal activity (9 V.S.A. § 4467(b)(1) and (2)).
Required Notice before Entry: 48 hours, and the landlord is only allowed to enter the rental unit between the hours of 9am and 9pm (9 V.S.A. § 4460).
Entry Allowed with Notice for Maintenance and Repairs (non-emergency): Yes (9 V.S.A. § 4460).
Emergency Entry Allowed without Notice: Yes (9 V.S.A. § 4460).
Entry Allowed During Tenant’s Extended Absence: No statute.
Utility Shut-offs Allowed: No. See the Vermont Department of Health’s Rental Housing Health Code, Section 12.1.2.
Name and Addresses: No statute.
Copy of the Lease: No statute.
Early Termination Rights: No statute.
Proof of Status: No statute.
Compliance: Landlords are required to maintain rental units that “are safe, clean, and fit for human habitation” and which are in compliance with all building, housing and health regulations.
Repairs: No statute, but landlords are generally expected to make necessary and needed repairs.
Water: Landlords must ensure there is suitable heat and hot water available.
Compliance: Tenants are required to adhere to the obligations set forth in building, housing and health codes and regulations.
Lawful Activity: Tenants shall not deliberately or negligently “destroy, deface, damage, or remove” any part of the rental unit, appliances, fixtures, and so on.
Quiet Enjoyment: Tenants are expected to conduct themselves in such a way that does not disturb other tenants’ “peaceful enjoyment” of their homes.
Retaliation: Landlords cannot retaliate against their tenants for notifying landlords of violations of landlord-tenant law, complaining to a governmental authority, or joining a tenant’s union. Retaliation is presumed if the landlord negatively reacts within 90 days after the tenant’s action (9 V.S.A. § 4465). For information on the City of Burlington’s Anti-retaliation Law, see the city’s Code of Ordinances, Chapter 18, Section 18(29).

References: § 4461
 § 4461
 § 4461
 § 4461
 § 4461
 § 4455
 § 4455
 v. 
 § 4456
 § 4458
 § 4459
 § 4456
 § 4462
 § 4467
 § 4467
 § 4467
 § 4467
 § 4467
 § 4460
 § 4460
 § 4460
 § 4465