Security deposits in Vermont
Vermont sets its own rules for security deposits under 9 V.S.A. § 4461. Below is what that statute requires, verified against the primary source, plus the steps to take and where to read the law yourself.
The Vermont statute
Vermont sets TWO return deadlines. For an ordinary residential tenancy the landlord must return the deposit with a written statement itemizing any deductions within 14 days of the date the tenant vacated or the landlord discovered the unit was vacated or abandoned (§ 4461(c)). For the seasonal rental of a unit not intended as the tenant’s primary residence the period is 60 days. A landlord who misses the deadline FORFEITS the right to withhold any part of the deposit, and a willful failure carries double the amount wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney’s fees (§ 4461(e)). Verified against primary statute text (legislature.vermont.gov) 2026-08-27.
Read the Vermont source text →How security deposit law works
Every state sets its own rules for security deposits — how much a landlord can collect, where the money must be held, what it can be spent on, and the deadline for returning it after you move out. Missing that deadline, or making deductions the statute doesn’t allow, often exposes the landlord to penalties that can multiply what they owe you.
Read the full security deposit law guide →
What to do in Vermont, in order
- In Vermont: document the unit on move-out day: video every room, appliance, and wall.
- Send your forwarding address in writing — several statutes start or extend the clock from this.
- Count the days. If the statutory deadline passes with no deposit and no itemized statement, send a demand letter citing the statute below.
- If the landlord still doesn’t pay, small claims court handles deposit cases cheaply and quickly — and statutory penalties often apply.
Common questions about security deposits in Vermont
What counts as normal wear and tear in Vermont?
Deterioration from ordinary living: faded paint, minor scuffs, carpet worn by foot traffic, small nail holes. Damage — stains, burns, broken fixtures, holes in walls — is deductible. The line is drawn by state case law, but "would this happen to any careful tenant over the same period?" is the test courts effectively apply.
Can my landlord keep the deposit for cleaning in Vermont?
Only to return the unit to the cleanliness it had at move-in, and in many states only if the lease says so. Routine turnover cleaning between tenants is generally the landlord’s cost of doing business.
What if I never got an itemized list of deductions in Vermont?
In most states an itemized written statement within the statutory window is a condition of keeping ANY of the deposit. No list, late list, or a list without real itemization is frequently a full-refund case — sometimes with penalties.
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