Vermont eviction notice and late fee rules

Notice for unpaid rent

14 days — A landlord may terminate a tenancy for nonpayment of rent by actual notice giving a termination date at least 14 days after the date of the actual notice.

Ending a month-to-month tenancy

Without a written rental agreement and with rent payable monthly, a no-cause termination date must be at least 60 days after actual notice for tenants who have lived in the premises two years or less, and at least 90 days for tenants who have lived there more than two years.

Late-fee limit

No statutory cap found

Grace period before a late fee

None found in the statutes we read

What we could not verify for Vermont: No official text found/recorded for: late_fee_cap, grace_period, late_fee_other (no late-fee provision located in 9 V.S.A. ch. 137); just_cause (no statewide provision located); answer_deadline (not in the statutes fetched; governed by court rules not retrieved).

Notice for unpaid rent

A landlord may terminate a tenancy for nonpayment of rent by actual notice giving a termination date at least 14 days after the date of the actual notice.

“The landlord may terminate a tenancy for nonpayment of rent by providing actual notice to the tenant of the date on which the tenancy will terminate, which shall be at least 14 days after the date of the actual notice.”
9 V.S.A. § 4467(a)

In an ejectment action for nonpayment, if the defendant pays into court all rent due through the end of the current rental period, with interest and costs of suit, before the writ of possession is executed, the action is discontinued; a defendant may do this no more than one time in 12 months.

“Before a writ of possession is executed, if the defendant pays into court all rent due through the end of the current rental period, including interest and the costs of suit, the action shall be discontinued. A defendant may not defeat an ejectment action by payment of all rent in arrears, interest, and court costs more than one time in 12 months.”
12 V.S.A. § 4773

Paying to stop an eviction

The rental agreement does not terminate if the tenant pays or tenders rent due through the end of the rental period in which payment is made or tendered.

“The rental agreement shall not terminate if the tenant pays or tenders rent due through the end of the rental period in which payment is made or tendered.”
9 V.S.A. § 4467(a)

Notice for other lease violations

For failure to comply with a material term of the rental agreement or obligations under the chapter, the landlord may terminate by actual notice given at least 30 days before the termination date in the notice.

“The landlord may terminate a tenancy for failure of the tenant to comply with a material term of the rental agreement or with obligations imposed under this chapter by actual notice given to the tenant at least 30 days prior to the termination date specified in the notice.”
9 V.S.A. § 4467(b)(1)

When termination is based on criminal activity, illegal drug activity, or acts of violence threatening other residents' health or safety, the termination date must be at least 14 days from the actual notice.

“When termination is based on criminal activity, illegal drug activity, or acts of violence, any of which threaten the health or safety of other residents, the landlord may terminate the tenancy by providing actual notice to the tenant of the date on which the tenancy will terminate, which shall be at least 14 days from the date of the actual notice.”
9 V.S.A. § 4467(b)(2)

Ending a month-to-month or other periodic tenancy

Without a written rental agreement and with rent payable monthly, a no-cause termination date must be at least 60 days after actual notice for tenants who have lived in the premises two years or less, and at least 90 days for tenants who have lived there more than two years.

“(A) for tenants who have resided continuously in the same premises for two years or less, at least 60 days after the date of the actual notice; (B) for tenants who have resided continuously in the same premises for more than two years, at least 90 days after the date of the actual notice.”
9 V.S.A. § 4467(c)(1)

Without a written rental agreement and with rent payable weekly, a no-cause termination date must be at least 21 days after actual notice.

“If rent is payable on a weekly basis, by providing actual notice to the tenant of the date on which the tenancy will terminate, which shall be at least 21 days after the date of the actual notice.”
9 V.S.A. § 4467(c)(2)

Under a written rental agreement, no-cause notice must be at least 30 days before the end of the stated term if the tenancy has lasted two years or less, and at least 60 days if more than two years; for a written week-to-week agreement it must be at least seven days.

“If there is a written rental agreement, the notice to terminate for no cause shall be at least 30 days before the end or expiration of the stated term of the rental agreement if the tenancy has continued for two years or less. The notice to terminate for no cause shall be at least 60 days before the end or expiration of the term of the rental agreement if the tenancy has continued for more than two years. If there is a written week-to-week rental agreement, the notice to terminate for no cause shall be at least seven days; however, a notice to terminate for nonpayment of rent shall be as provided in subsection (a) of this section.”
9 V.S.A. § 4467(e)

Lockouts and utility shutoffs

A landlord may not willfully interrupt or terminate utility service (except temporary interruptions for emergency repairs), and may not deny a tenant access to the premises or the tenant's property except through proper judicial process.

“(a) No landlord may willfully cause, directly or indirectly, the interruption or termination of any utility service being supplied to the tenant, except for temporary interruptions for emergency repairs. (b) No landlord may directly or indirectly deny a tenant access to and possession of the tenant’s rented or leased premises, except through proper judicial process.”
9 V.S.A. § 4463

A tenant damaged or injured by an illegal eviction may sue for injunctive relief, damages, costs, and reasonable attorney's fees.

“Any tenant who sustains damage or injury as a result of an illegal eviction may bring an action for injunctive relief, damages, costs, and reasonable attorney’s fees.”
9 V.S.A. § 4464(a)

Retaliation

A landlord may not retaliate by changing rental terms or bringing or threatening an action against a tenant who complained to a government agency about a health or safety code violation, complained to the landlord of a violation of the chapter, or organized or joined a tenant union.

“A landlord of a residential dwelling unit may not retaliate by establishing or changing terms of a rental agreement or by bringing or threatening to bring an action against a tenant who: (1) has complained to a governmental agency charged with responsibility for enforcement of a building, housing, or health regulation of a violation applicable to the premises materially affecting health and safety; (2) has complained to the landlord of a violation of this chapter; or (3) has organized or become a member of a tenant’s union or similar organization.”
9 V.S.A. § 4465(a)

A tenant subjected to retaliation may recover damages and reasonable attorney's fees and has a defense in a retaliatory action for possession.

“If the landlord acts in violation of this section, the tenant is entitled to recover damages and reasonable attorney’s fees and has a defense in any retaliatory action for possession.”
9 V.S.A. § 4465(b)

A termination notice on grounds other than nonpayment served within 90 days after a government notice that the premises do not comply with health or safety regulations is rebuttably presumed retaliatory.

“If a landlord serves notice of termination of tenancy on any grounds other than for nonpayment of rent within 90 days after notice by any municipal or State governmental entity that the premises are not in compliance with applicable health or safety regulations, there is a rebuttable presumption that any termination by the landlord is in retaliation for the tenant having reported the noncompliance.”
9 V.S.A. § 4465(c)

What the notice must say and how it is delivered

The termination date must be specifically stated in the notice.

“In all cases, the termination date shall be specifically stated in the notice.”
9 V.S.A. § 4467(f)

"Actual notice" means receipt of written notice hand-delivered or mailed to the last known address; receipt is presumed three days after mailing if sent by first-class or certified mail (rebuttable).

““Actual notice” means receipt of written notice hand-delivered or mailed to the last known address. A rebuttable presumption that the notice was received three days after mailing is created if the sending party proves that the notice was sent by first-class or certified U.S. mail.”
9 V.S.A. § 4451(1)

Court deadlines and the eviction case

A termination notice cannot support an eviction judgment unless the proceeding is started within 60 days of the termination date in the notice.

“A notice to terminate a tenancy shall be insufficient to support a judgment of eviction unless the proceeding is commenced not later than 60 days from the termination date set forth in the notice.”
9 V.S.A. § 4467(k)

If you have received a notice

1. Write down the date you received it and how it was delivered.
2. Check what it asks for — payment, fixing a problem, or moving out — and the deadline it gives against the Vermont rules above.
3. Keep paying what you can document; ask for receipts.
4. If you receive court papers, note the response deadline on them; a legal-aid office or the court’s self-help center can help.

Check another situation with the eviction notice checker or the late fee checker.

Common questions

How much notice does a landlord in Vermont have to give for unpaid rent?

A landlord may terminate a tenancy for nonpayment of rent by actual notice giving a termination date at least 14 days after the date of the actual notice. (9 V.S.A. § 4467(a)).

How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month tenancy in Vermont?

Without a written rental agreement and with rent payable monthly, a no-cause termination date must be at least 60 days after actual notice for tenants who have lived in the premises two years or less, and at least 90 days for tenants who have lived there more than two years. (9 V.S.A. § 4467(c)(1)).