What Is a Vermont Lease Agreement
A Vermont lease agreement is a written contract that explains the rental terms, rules, and responsibilities between a landlord and a tenant. It helps both sides understand what to expect during the rental period.
A typical lease agreement can include the following details:
- The rent amount
- When rent is due each month
- The length of the tenancy
- The responsibilities of both landlord and tenant
Most lease agreements in Vermont are for a fixed term, often one year. However, landlords and tenants may agree on shorter or longer periods. If the lease agreement doesn’t mention a precise end date, the rental will usually default to a month-to-month agreement.
Vermont residential lease agreements are governed by the Vermont Residential Rental Agreements Act (9 VSA Chapter 137), which outlines the basic rights and duties for both parties. Using a clear, written rental agreement helps prevent misunderstandings and gives both sides a reliable record of the terms they agreed to.
Legal Templates makes it easy to create a Vermont lease agreement that includes all the required information. Use our guided questionnaire to create a custom agreement that complies with all relevant state rules.
Vermont Landlord-Tenant Laws Overview
| Topic | Rule | Vermont Law |
|---|---|---|
| Habitability | Landlords must provide safe, clean, and fit housing, including working heat, plumbing, and basic utilities. | 9 VSA § 4457 |
| Security Deposit Maximum | No limit, some cities, such as Burlington, have a maximum cap | No Law |
| Security Deposit Return Deadline | Landlords must return the deposit within 14 days after the tenancy ends, along with an itemized list of deductions. | 9 VSA § 4461 |
| Rent Due Date | Rent is due on the date listed in the rental agreement. | 9 VSA § 4455 |
| Grace Period for Rent | Vermont does not require landlords to offer a grace period for late rent. | No Law |
| Rent Increases | Landlords must give 60 days written notice before increasing rent in a month-to-month tenancy. | 9 VSA § 4467 |
| Rent Withholding | Tenants may withhold rent if the landlord fails to address serious health or safety issues after receiving a written notice. | 9 VSA § 4458 |
| Domestic Violence Protections | Tenants may request a change of locks, which the landlord must do within 48 hours. | 9 VSA § 4473 |
| Retaliation Prohibited | Landlords cannot change the lease, raise the rent, or evict a tenant for reporting health and safety issues or joining a tenant group. | 9 VSA § 4465 |
| Landlord Entry Requirements | Landlords must give a 48-hour notice unless there is an emergency. | 9 VSA § 4460 |
| Termination Notice (Month-to-Month) | Most terminations need 14-30 days’ notice, depending on the reason. Longer notices may apply for no-cause cases. | 9 VSA § 4467 |
| Abandonment | If the tenant leaves property behind, the landlord must store it and follow notice and disposal rules before removing it. | 9 VSA § 4462 |
Vermont Lease Agreement (By Type)
There are several types of Vermont lease agreements, each supporting a different rental setup. You can select the form that best suits your specific situation and customize it to meet your needs.
Vermont Standard Lease Agreement
Institutes a rental lease for a property.
Vermont Month-to-Month Rental Agreement
Lets tenants live on a property on a monthly basis.
Vermont Commercial Lease Agreement
A contract granting a business the right to use a property for its operational needs.
Vermont Room Rental Agreement
A contract for individuals sharing a common living space, defining individual and collective responsibilities.
Vermont Sublease Agreement
Permits a subtenant to rent all or part of the leased property from a tenant.
Vermont Rent-to-Own Lease Agreement
A rental model that facilitates future property buying.
Security Deposit Rules in Vermont
Vermont sets clear rules for how landlords must collect, hold, and return a tenant’s security deposit.
Maximum Amount
Vermont does not set a limit on how much a landlord can charge for a security deposit. Since there is no statewide limit, landlords and tenants can agree on the amount when signing the lease agreement. Some individual cities and municipalities may have different rules. There is also no state rule that requires landlords to pay interest on deposits. However, some towns may choose to add their own interest rules (9 VSA § 4461(g)).
Allowed Deductions
Landlords may use part of the deposit to cover:
- Unpaid rent
- Damage that is beyond normal wear and tear
- Any unpaid utilities
- Costs to cover abandoned property
Vermont law requires that landlords provide tenants with a written, itemized list of deductions. If they do not provide this written statement within the required time, they lose the right to withhold any part of the deposit. If a landlord withholds part of the deposit on purpose without a valid reason, they may have to pay the tenant twice the amount they kept and may also owe attorney’s fees (9 VSA § 4461(c)).
Return Deadline
In Vermont, landlords are required to return the deposit within 14 days of the tenant’s departure (9 VSA § 4461).
Use a move-in inspection checklist to document the condition of the rental unit. A clear record of what the unit looked like before the tenant moved in helps avoid security deposit disputes when the tenancy ends.
Rent Rules in Vermont
Here are some common rent rules both landlords and tenants in Vermont should be aware of when signing a lease agreement.
Rent Due Date and Late Fees
In Vermont, the rent due date can be agreed upon by the tenant and the landlord. There is no required due date, and no grace period in Vermont. This means that rent is considered late on the day after it is due, unless the lease states otherwise (9 VSA § 4455(a)). Landlords may give a 14-day notice for non-payment if rent is late.
While Vermont does not set a maximum late fee limit, courts suggest that the fee has to be reasonable. In Highgate Associates v. Merryfield, the court ruled that a late fee is only valid if it matches the landlord’s real costs.
Returned Check Fee (NSF)
There is no specific limit on how much a landlord may charge if a tenant’s check bounces. The fee must be reasonable, however, and should be listed in the lease agreement so both parties know what to expect.
Rent Increases
Vermont does not have statewide rent control. This means that landlords may raise rent as long as they follow the state’s notice rules. For month-to-month tenancies in Vermont, the landlords must give a 60-day written notice before raising the rent (9 V.S.A. § 4467).
Repairs and Maintenance Responsibilities in Vermont
Both landlords and tenants have specific responsibilities and duties that they must fulfill to ensure the rental home remains safe and livable. These rules help prevent misunderstandings and make it easier to address any repair issues they arise.
Landlord’s Responsibilities
Landlords are required to maintain the rental unit in a safe, clean, and habitable condition (9 VSA § 4457). This includes:
- Providing working utilities, such as heating, plumbing, hot and cold water, etc
- Making repairs within a reasonable time
- Keeping common areas clean and safe
Tenant Responsibilities
Tenants have certain responsibilities as well to maintain the rental property. They must:
- Keep the home reasonably clean
- Use appliances, plumbing, and utilities safely and properly
- Avoid damaging the property beyond normal wear and tear
If the tenants damage the property, they may need to pay for the repairs. If the tenant fails to comply with a key provision of the lease, such as maintaining active utilities, the landlord may issue a 30-day notice to correct the issue (9 VSA § 4467(b)(1)).
When Tenants Can Withhold Rent
Tenants can withhold rent only in some situations where the landlord fails to fix a serious health or safety issue. Vermont allows withholding when:
- The tenant provides the landlord with proper written notice that describes the problem.
- The problem affects habitability, including the lack of proper heating or unsafe wiring.
- The landlord fails to make repairs within a reasonable timeframe (9 VSA § 4457).
Landlord’s Right to Enter in Vermont
There are rules for when a landlord can enter a rental unit in Vermont. These rules help protect a tenant’s privacy while allowing landlords to take care of any repairs or inspections.
Notice Requirement
Under 9 VSA § 4460, a landlord must give reasonable notice before entering a tenant’s home. In most cases, this means providing the tenant at least 48 hours’ notice. And they can only enter between 9 AM and 9 PM, unless the tenant agrees otherwise.
Permitted Reasons for Entry
A landlord can enter the rental unit for the following reasons in Vermont:
- To inspect the property
- To make repairs or improvements to the unit
- To show the unit to future tenants, buyers, or contractors
- To respond to emergencies
- To provide any other agreed-upon services within the lease agreement
Tenant Protections
Vermont provides tenants with strong privacy protections under 9 VSA § 4460 and 9 VSA § 4463. Tenants have the right to:
- Refuse entry that does not follow proper notice rules
- Allow entry at reasonable times only
- Live in this unit without harassment
- Maintain access to the home without the landlord changing the locks
Landlords are not allowed to lock out the tenant or change the locks without legal cause. In case a landlord in Vermont violates these rules, the tenant may be able to obtain remedies under Vermont’s Residential Rental Agreements Act.
Lease Disclosures in Vermont
Landlords in Vermont are required to share certain information about the home with the tenant. These disclosures make the rental process clearer for both parties.
Lead-Based Paint Disclosure
Under federal law, landlords are required to give tenants a lead-based paint disclosure if the home was built before 1978. This informs the tenants of possible lead hazards. Landlords must share any known information about lead paint and provide the lead hazard information pamphlet (42 US Code § 4852d).
Rent Increase Notice Disclosure
If a landlord plans to increase rent in a month-to-month tenancy, they must provide the tenant with at least a 60-day written notice before the new amount takes effect (9 VSA § 4467).
Sample Vermont Lease Agreement
View a sample Vermont lease agreement template below to see how to create a rental contract that follows state rules. Then, answer a few simple questions on our guided form to customize your lease agreement and download it in PDF or Word format.
