Landlords

Introduction

This information is intended to offer guidance to Vermont landlords about the legal requirements for renting property. It covers the obligations of a landlord throughout the rental process from beginning to end.

This information comes from Vermont laws and codes on residential rental properties, as well as the Renting in Vermont Information Handbook for Tenants and Landlords. Links to this and other resources, including the complete text of Vermont housing laws and codes, can be found in the list of resources (sidebar) and throughout the website.

The information on this website is a guide only; it is not comprehensive and does not constitute a legal opinion or advice.

Please note that some municipalities in Vermont have their own codes and laws that also apply to landlords and are often stricter and include additional requirements. You should check with your town health officers for more information on your local regulations.

Some towns also have additional laws governing the rights and responsibilities or landlords and tenants.

Before you can rent

Minimum rental housing standards

Before your property can be rented, you must meet these minimum health and safety building standards of the Vermont Departments of Health and Public Safety:

Read more: "Before you can rent"

Renting out your property

What landlords can and cannot consider when selecting tenants

Under state and federal Fair Housing laws, you cannot take race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, the presence of minor children, receipt of public assistance, or gender identity into consideration when deciding to rent to a tenant. Discrimination on the basis of any one or more of these categories can result in an investigation and/or a lawsuit.

However, there are some characteristics you can take into consideration, such as objectionable behavior in prior rentals or past failure to pay rent.

You are also required to make certain types of accommodations for tenants with disabilities.

Read more: "What landlords can and cannot consider when selecting tenants"

Leases and other types of rental agreements

There are different types of rental agreements between landlords and tenants. These different types of agreements have different rules for ending or renewing a tenancy. This section is an overview of the various types and their respective rules.

Read more: "Leases and other types of rental agreements"

Rights and responsibilities

Rights and responsibilities of a landlord from beginning to end of tenancy

During the rental period you:

  • Must maintain the property
  • May enter occupied premises only under certain conditions
  • May increase the rent only at certain times
  • Must follow proper procedure for ending a tenancy, including:
    • Providing proper notice
    • Returning security deposits

Read more: "Rights and responsibilities of a landlord from beginning to end of tenancy"

Problems with tenants

How to deal with common tenancy issues

Under Vermont law, you may take only specified actions to address common problems with tenants and or to properly evict a tenant who violates the rental lease. This section addresses the following issues:

  • Late rent
  • Illegal retaliation
  • Eviction

Read more: "How to deal with common tenancy issues"