Vermont rent increase law

A rent increase takes effect only on the first day of the rental period that follows at least 60 days' actual notice to the tenant. Actual notice means written notice hand-delivered or mailed to the last known address; proof of first-class or certified mailing creates a presumption that it was received three days after mailing.

9 V.S.A. § 4455(b) 9 V.S.A. § 4451(1)

• Chapter 137 sets no limit on the amount of an increase. 9 V.S.A. ch. 137 See Rent control and local rules on the Vermont page
• An owner of privately owned age-restricted housing that is not a licensed care facility must also notify the Department of Housing and Community Development and every affected resident, on the Department's form, at least 60 days before an increase, giving the amount, the effective date, the percentage over the current base rent and a copy of residents' rights. Without both notices the increase is unenforceable. Publicly subsidized housing monitored for rent limits is exempt. 9 V.S.A. § 4468a
• You may not change lease terms to retaliate against a tenant who complained about code or chapter 137 violations or joined a tenants' union. 9 V.S.A. § 4465(a) See Retaliation on the Vermont page
• Burlington has a longer local notice period: the city-hosted rental guide describes at least ninety days' written notice before a rent increase. Check the current city requirements for a Burlington address rather than using the statewide sixty-day minimum alone. Prepare the letter with the property, tenants, current and proposed rent, dollar difference and intended first rental-period date. Keep the notice, mailing or hand-delivery evidence and any response together; allow for actual receipt and any longer lease commitment before updating the payment schedule. Burlington-hosted guide to renting in Vermont 9 V.S.A. § 4455(b) 9 V.S.A. § 4451(1)

Chapter 137 contains no rent control and no limit on the size of a rent increase. It lets a town or city adopt a security deposit ordinance that adds to state law, including one requiring interest, but not one that limits how a deposit is held. Burlington's deposit section and limited Barre references are reviewed below; municipal charter powers and other local deposit rules remain unreviewed.

9 V.S.A. § 4461(g) 9 V.S.A. ch. 137

You may not retaliate by setting or changing lease terms, or by bringing or threatening a legal action, against a tenant who complained to a government agency about a building, housing or health code violation materially affecting health and safety, complained to you about a violation of chapter 137, or organized or joined a tenants' union or similar group.

9 V.S.A. § 4465(a)

• A tenant who faces retaliation may recover damages and reasonable attorney's fees and has a defense in any retaliatory eviction case. 9 V.S.A. § 4465(b)
• If you serve a termination notice on any ground other than unpaid rent within 90 days after a town or State agency notifies you that the premises do not meet health or safety regulations, the termination is presumed to be retaliation. You can rebut the presumption. 9 V.S.A. § 4465(c)
• Fair housing law separately bars threatening or interfering with anyone who opposes discrimination or takes part in a Human Rights Commission complaint. 9 V.S.A. § 4506(e)