Free Vermont Lease & Rental Agreement

Last updated September 27, 2026

Written by LawLease Editorial

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Vermont Residential Lease Agreement

A Vermont residential lease (also called a Vermont rental agreement) sets the rent, term and house rules for a home rental. A Vermont residential lease agreement is governed by the Residential Rental Agreements chapter of Title 9 (9 V.S.A. chapter 137), which applies to written and oral rental agreements alike. Vermont is notably tenant-protective: a 14-day deposit refund with forfeiture for missing it, 48 hours’ notice for entry, 60 days’ notice of any rent increase, no-cause termination periods that grow with the length of the tenancy, and a ban on application fees.

Vermont landlord–tenant law at a glance

Vermont residential lease law summary
Security deposit limit	No statutory cap
Deposit return	14 days after the landlord learns the tenant vacated (60 days for seasonal rentals), with an itemized statement9 V.S.A. §4461(c)
Late fees	No statutory cap or grace period; should be stated in the lease and reasonable
Rent-increase notice	60 days’ actual notice, effective the first day of a rental period9 V.S.A. §4455(b)
Landlord entry	48 hours’ notice, between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.9 V.S.A. §4460
No-cause termination (written lease)	30 days (tenancy ≤2 years) · 60 days (>2 years) before the end of the term9 V.S.A. §4467(e)
Nonpayment eviction notice	Termination date at least 14 days after actual notice9 V.S.A. §4467(a)
Application fees	Prohibited for residential rentals9 V.S.A. §4456a

Security deposits in Vermont

Vermont doesn’t cap the amount of a security deposit — defined as any refundable advance, deposit, or prepaid rent, however named (§4461(a)). What it does impose is one of the shortest refund deadlines in the country, with a harsh penalty for missing it.

Allowed deductions — Unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear, unpaid utility charges, and the cost of removing items the tenant abandoned (§4461(b)).
14-day refund — The deposit and a written statement itemizing deductions are due within 14 days from when the landlord discovers the tenant vacated or abandoned the unit — or from the move-out date, if the tenant gave notice of it. The clock doesn’t run from the lease end date (§4461(c)).
Seasonal rentals — For a seasonal rental that isn’t the tenant’s primary residence, the deadline is 60 days (§4461(c)).
Delivery — The statement and any refund must be hand-delivered or mailed to the tenant’s last known address (§4461(d)).
Forfeiture & double damages — Miss the deadline and the landlord forfeits the right to withhold any of the deposit; a willful failure makes the landlord liable for double the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney’s fees and costs (§4461(e)).
Local rules — Deposits pass to a new owner on sale, who must notify the tenant (§4461(f)), and towns may adopt their own deposit ordinances (§4461(g)).

Rent, late fees & application fees

Rent increases — An increase takes effect only on the first day of a rental period following at least 60 days’ actual notice to the tenant (§4455(b)). “Actual notice” means written notice hand-delivered or mailed to the last known address (§4451).
Late fees — Chapter 137 sets no late-fee cap or grace period. A fee should be written into the lease and bear a reasonable relation to the landlord’s cost of late payment — an excessive fee risks being struck as an unenforceable penalty.
No application fees — A landlord or agent may not charge anyone an application fee to apply for a residential rental (§4456a).
Rent control — Vermont has no statewide rent control or cap on the size of an increase; the binding limit is the 60-day notice.

Landlord entry & access

A Vermont landlord may enter with the tenant’s consent, which may not be unreasonably withheld. To inspect, make repairs, supply services, or show the unit to prospective buyers or tenants, the landlord must give at least 48 hours’ notice and enter only between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. (§4460(a)–(b)).

Entry without consent or notice is allowed only when the landlord reasonably believes there is imminent danger to a person or property (§4460(c)).

Ending a Vermont tenancy

Landlord termination notices must be “actual notice” and state a termination date. For a no-cause termination, the required notice depends on whether there is a written rental agreement and how long the tenant has lived there.

Vermont landlord notice periods (9 V.S.A. §4467)
Nonpayment of rent	At least 14 days after actual notice§4467(a)
Breach of a material lease term	At least 30 days§4467(b)
Criminal activity, illegal drugs, or violence threatening health or safety	At least 14 days§4467(b)
No cause — written lease, tenancy ≤2 years	30 days before the end of the term§4467(e)
No cause — written lease, tenancy >2 years	60 days before the end of the term§4467(e)
No cause — no written lease, monthly rent	60 days (≤2 years) · 90 days (>2 years)§4467(c)
Shared occupancy (monthly rent)	At least 15 days§4467(h)

Tenant’s notice — Unless a written rental agreement provides otherwise, a tenant may end a tenancy with actual notice at least one rental payment period before the termination date (§4456(d)).
Weekly tenancies — No-cause notice is 21 days without a written agreement and 7 days under a written week-to-week agreement (§4467(c), (e)).
Abuse, sexual assault & stalking — A tenant who reasonably fears imminent harm from abuse, sexual assault, or stalking — or who was sexually assaulted on the premises within the preceding six months — may terminate without penalty on 30 days’ notice with qualifying documentation, which can include a signed self-certification (§4472). The landlord must keep that information confidential (§4474).
Military — Servicemembers with qualifying orders may also terminate under the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. §3955).

Required disclosures in Vermont

Beyond these, Vermont’s rental chapter doesn’t require a long list of state-specific lease riders.

Lead-safe maintenance (pre-1978) — Unless exempt, owners of pre-1978 rental housing must follow the state’s lead-safe maintenance requirements and file a compliance statement with the Department of Health. Before entering into a lease, they must give the tenant Department-approved lead-hazard information and a copy of the most recent compliance statement (18 V.S.A. §1759).
Lead-based paint (federal) — Federal warning, pamphlet, and known-hazard disclosure for housing built before 1978 (42 U.S.C. §4852d).
Deposit statement — An itemized statement of any deposit deductions at move-out (§4461(c)).

Habitability & repairs

Every Vermont rental carries a warranty that the landlord will deliver and maintain premises that are safe, clean, and fit for human habitation and that comply with health and housing codes, including heat capable of safely providing a reasonable amount of warmth and adequate hot and cold water. Any waiver of this warranty is void (§4457).

If the landlord fails to fix a noncompliance that materially affects health and safety within a reasonable time after actual notice, the tenant may withhold rent, seek an injunction, recover damages and attorney’s fees, or terminate on reasonable notice (§4458). For a minor defect not repaired within 30 days of notice, the tenant may repair it and deduct the cost — up to half of one month’s rent (§4459).

Tenant protections you can’t waive

Habitability — A waiver of the warranty of habitability is contrary to public policy and void (§4457).
Implied obligations — The chapter’s duties are implied into every rental agreement, written or oral (§4453).
No self-help eviction — A landlord may not shut off utilities, lock the tenant out, or keep the tenant from their belongings except through the courts (§4463).
No retaliation — A landlord can’t change lease terms or bring or threaten an eviction because the tenant complained to a code-enforcement agency or to the landlord about a violation, or joined a tenant organization. A termination notice on any ground other than nonpayment served within 90 days after a government notice that the unit is out of compliance is presumed retaliatory (§4465).

Vermont lease agreement FAQs

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Vermont?

Vermont sets no statutory cap on the amount. It does strictly regulate the refund: 14 days, with an itemized statement, or the landlord forfeits the right to keep any of it (§4461).

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Vermont?

14 days from the date the landlord discovers the tenant moved out — or from the move-out date the tenant gave notice of — and 60 days for a seasonal rental that isn’t the tenant’s primary home. A willful failure costs double the amount wrongfully withheld plus attorney’s fees (§4461(c), (e)).

How much notice is required to raise the rent in Vermont?

At least 60 days’ actual notice, and the increase can only take effect on the first day of a rental period (§4455(b)).

How much notice does a Vermont landlord need to give before entering?

At least 48 hours, with entry only between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. A landlord can enter without notice only with the tenant’s consent or when there’s a reasonable belief of imminent danger to people or property (§4460).

How much notice does a Vermont landlord need to end a tenancy without cause?

Under a written lease, 30 days before the end of the term for a tenancy of two years or less, and 60 days if longer. Without a written agreement and with monthly rent, it’s 60 or 90 days (§4467(c), (e)).

How much notice is required to evict for nonpayment of rent in Vermont?

The landlord must give actual notice with a termination date at least 14 days after the tenant receives it (§4467(a)).

Can a Vermont landlord charge an application fee?

No. Vermont prohibits landlords and their agents from charging an application fee to apply for a residential rental (§4456a).

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