Knowing your rights as a tenant in Vermont is crucial when it comes to rent increases. While Vermont does not have statewide rent control laws, landlords must follow strict guidelines regarding how and when they can raise rent. This article offers a complete guide to Vermont’s rent increase laws in 2024, ensuring you’re equipped to navigate any changes to your rental agreement.
Rent Increases in Vermont: The Basics
- No Statewide Rent Control: Vermont does not have rent control laws capping how much landlords can increase rent by a specific percentage.
- Landlord’s Right to Increase Rent: Landlords typically have the right to increase rent, but they must follow established procedures and provide adequate notice.
- Lease Agreements: The terms of your lease agreement play a significant role in determining when and how your rent can be increased.
Notice Requirements for Rent Increases
- Statewide Law (Outside of Burlington): For most Vermont locations, landlords must give at least 60 days’ written notice before increasing rent. This notice has to be delivered to the tenant in person, via certified mail, or according to methods outlined in your lease.
- Burlington Rent Stabilization Ordinance: The city of Burlington has stricter rules. Landlords must provide at least 90 days’ written notice for a rent increase.
- Timing of the Increase: The raised rent amount applies only after the notice period has expired.
Exceptions to Notice Requirements
There are limited situations where a landlord may be able to increase the rent without the standard notice period:
- Tenants-At-Will: If you have a month-to-month lease (tenant-at-will), your landlord’s notice requirements may be shorter in certain situations.
- Subsidized Housing: Rent increases in subsidized housing are governed by specific rules that might differ from general rental regulations.
- Lease Violations: If you violate specific terms of your lease agreement, the landlord may have grounds to raise your rent with shorter notice.
Limits on Rent Increases
While there are no percentage caps on rent increases in most of Vermont, landlords cannot use them in these ways:
- Retaliation: Landlords cannot arbitrarily raise rent in response to a tenant exercising their legal rights, such as requesting repairs or reporting housing code violations.
- Discrimination: A landlord cannot raise rent based on protected characteristics like race, religion, familial status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
Challenging Unreasonable Rent Increases
If you feel a rent increase is unjustified, excessive, or discriminatory, here’s what you can do:
- Negotiation: First, try talking to your landlord openly to see if a compromise can be reached.
- Legal Resources: Seek legal advice from tenant advocacy groups or attorneys specializing in landlord-tenant law. You can find resources listed below.
- Dispute Resolution: Vermont offers mediation and dispute resolution services that may help settle disagreements over rent increases without going to court.
Tenant Resources in Vermont
- Vermont Legal Aid: https://vtlawhelp.org/rent-increases
- Vermont Attorney General’s Office: https://ago.vermont.gov/
Sources
- Vermont Statutes Annotated, Title 9, Chapter 137: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/09/137/04455
- City of Burlington Rent Stabilization Ordinance: [[invalid URL removed]]
- Hemlane – Vermont Rent Control Laws https://www.hemlane.com/resources/vermont-rent-control-laws/
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Laws can change, so it’s best to consult an attorney or tenant advocacy group for the most up-to-date legal advice specific to your situation.
