Housing Laws

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:

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

¹ VT ST 9 § 4472(a)

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:

1. a court, law enforcement, or other government agency;
2. a victim assistance program;
3. a legal, clerical, medical, or other professional from whom you or your child or dependent received counseling or other assistance concerning the abuse;
4. 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

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