Vermont Housing Laws

Housing Laws

Breaking your lease

Is there a law that protects me if I need to break my lease?

If you are what the law considers a “protected tenant,” you can terminate your lease without penalty if you reasonably believe that you need to leave your home based on either of the following:

your fear of immediate (imminent) harm due to abuse, sexual assault, or stalking; or
the fact that you were a victim of sexual assault that occurred on the premises within the six months before your termination notice.¹

¹VT ST 9 § 4472(a)

What is a “protected tenant”?

The law defines a “protected tenant” as a victim of:

You are also considered a “protected tenant” if you are the parent, foster parent, legal guardian, or caretaker with at least partial physical custody of a victim of abuse, sexual assault, or stalking.¹

¹VT ST 9 § 4471(2)

What documentation do I need to show my landlord to end my lease?

The law says you must notify your landlord in writing that you will terminate your lease on a specific date. That date must be at least 30 days in the future. This is known as a “written notice of termination.”¹ You must also provide the landlord with documentation supporting your belief that it is necessary to leave the home at least 30 days before the termination date. The documentation could be from one or more of the following sources:

a court, law enforcement, or other government agency;
a victim assistance program;
a legal, clerical, medical, or other professional from whom you or your child or dependent received counseling or other assistance concerning the abuse;
a self-certification of your status as a victim signed under penalty of perjury by:

a federal or state government entity, including the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development or the Vermont Department for Children and Families; or
a nonprofit organization that provides support services to protected tenants.²

¹VT ST 9 § 4472(b)(1)
²VT ST 9 § 4472(b)(2)

Can my landlord tell others about my situation?

Your landlord cannot share information about the abuse, sexual assault, or stalking with others unless:

you allow (authorize) your information to be shared; or
the law or a court order requires your landlord to share this information.¹

¹VT ST 9 § 4474

Changing your locks

Can I ask my landlord to change the locks?

You can ask your landlord to change the locks of your home within 48 hours based on:

your fear of immediate (imminent) harm due to abuse, sexual assault, or stalking; or
the fact that you were a victim of sexual assault that occurred on the premises within six months before the request.¹

If the abuser is also a tenant in your home, you must have a court order, such as a relief from abuse order, that requires the abuser to leave the home. You’d have to give the landlord a copy of that order with your lock change request.²

If the landlord changes the locks as requested, the landlord should provide you and any other tenants, except for the abuser, with keys to the new locks.³

¹VT ST 9 § 4473(1)
²VT ST 9 § 4473(2)
³VT ST 9 § 4473(3)

If my landlord does not change the locks, can I do it?

If your landlord does not change the locks after you ask them to, you may change the locks without the landlord’s prior knowledge or permission, as long as you:

ensure that the new locks and the quality of the installation are equal to or better than the quality of the original locks and installation;
notify the landlord within 24 hours after the installation; and
provide the landlord with the keys to the new locks.¹

You are responsible for the costs of the installation and the new locks unless you have agreed otherwise with your landlord.²

¹VT ST 9 § 4473(4)
²VT ST 9 § 4473(5)

Can I install security cameras or other security measures?

You can ask your landlord for permission to install additional security measures, such as a security system or security camera. Your landlord should not unreasonably turn down your request.¹

If you want to install a security system, you should:

make your request at least seven days before installation;
ensure the quality and safety of the security measures and their installation;
pay for the costs of the installation and operation of the security system; and
be liable for any damages resulting from the installation.²

¹VT ST 9 § 4473(6)(A), (6)(C)
²VT ST 9 § 4473(B)

Protection from housing discrimination

Can a landlord refuse to rent me an apartment because I am a victim of abuse?

It is illegal for a landlord to refuse to sell or rent you a home because you are a victim of abuse, sexual assault, or stalking. It is also illegal for the landlord to falsely claim that the home is not available for inspection, sale, or rental when it actually is.¹

¹VT ST 9 § 4503(a)(1), (a)(4)

Can a landlord change the conditions or terms of my rental unit because I am a victim?

It is illegal for a landlord to discriminate against you or harass you about the terms, conditions, privileges, and protections of the sale or rental of a home, or in the provision of services or facilities in connection to the home because you are a victim of abuse, sexual assault, or stalking.¹

¹VT ST 9 § 4503(a)(2)

I am worried that my status as a victim will be used against me. Is that legal?

It is illegal for anyone, including a landlord, to use information regarding your status as a victim of abuse, sexual assault, or stalking for the purpose of:

harassing or intimidating you;
retaliating against you for exercising your rights;
influencing you to leave (vacate) the home; or
trying to get the home back (recovering possession).¹

¹VT ST 9 § 4503(a)(5)

Legal Information: Vermont