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Vermont Residential Lease Agreement

Free Vermont lease agreement template: no statutory deposit cap, 14-day deposit return, and required lead hazard disclosure. Attorney review available.

Introduction

A residential lease agreement is a legally binding contract that sets the terms under which a tenant rents a landlord's home, covering the rent, the term, the security deposit, each party's responsibilities, and how the tenancy ends. In Vermont these leases are governed by the Vermont Residential Rental Agreements Act, 9 V.S.A. Chapter 137. Vermont sets no statutory cap on the security deposit a landlord may require, but under 9 V.S.A. Section 4461 the landlord must return it, together with a written statement itemizing any deductions, within 14 days after the tenant vacates (60 days for a seasonal unit not intended as a primary residence); missing that deadline forfeits the landlord's right to withhold any part of it. Before signing, a landlord of pre-1978 housing must give the federal lead-based paint disclosure and, under 18 V.S.A. Section 1759(d)(1), written materials on lead hazards plus a copy of the owner's most recent Essential Maintenance Practices (EMP) compliance statement. A landlord may enter only between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on at least 48 hours' notice for inspections, repairs, or showings (9 V.S.A. Section 4460). Chapter 137 sets no statewide rent control or just-cause eviction rule, so a landlord may end a month-to-month tenancy without cause on 60 days' notice (tenancies of two years or less) or 90 days' notice (tenancies over two years) under 9 V.S.A. Section 4467, and a rent increase takes effect on at least 60 days' notice under Section 4455. Attorney review is available as an option before you sign.

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Key Things to Know

  1. 1

    A residential lease agreement is a legally binding contract that sets the terms under which a tenant rents a landlord's residential property, including rent, term, deposit, responsibilities, and how the tenancy ends.

  2. 2

    Vermont sets no statutory cap on the security deposit amount. Under 9 V.S.A. Section 4461, whatever amount is collected must be returned, with a written statement itemizing any deductions, within 14 days after the tenant vacates (60 days for seasonal occupancy); missing the deadline forfeits the landlord's right to withhold any of it.

  3. 3

    Two disclosures apply to pre-1978 rentals: the federal lead-based paint disclosure (42 U.S.C. 4852d) and, under 18 V.S.A. Section 1759(d)(1), Vermont-approved written materials on lead hazards plus a copy of the owner's current Essential Maintenance Practices (EMP) compliance statement, both due before the lease is signed.

  4. 4

    A landlord may enter only between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on at least 48 hours' notice, for inspections, agreed repairs, services, or showings (9 V.S.A. Section 4460). Entry without notice is limited to a reasonable belief of imminent danger to a person or the property.

  5. 5

    Chapter 137 does not cap a residential late fee or mandate a grace period before one applies, so the late-fee amount and any grace period are set by the lease itself; state that rule in writing so both sides know when a fee applies.

  6. 6

    Ending a month-to-month tenancy without cause requires 60 days' actual notice for a tenant who has resided two years or less, or 90 days' notice for one who has resided more than two years (9 V.S.A. Section 4467). Nonpayment of rent allows termination on at least 14 days' notice to pay. A rent increase takes effect on at least 60 days' notice (Section 4455).

  7. 7

    Vermont has no statewide rent control or just-cause eviction statute. Chapter 137 expressly allows a no-cause termination of a month-to-month tenancy as long as the statutory notice period is met.

Key decisions before you file

Before you file a Residential Lease Agreement in Vermont, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The Residential Lease Agreement guide walks through them.

Open the Residential Lease Agreement guide

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VERMONT RESIDENTIAL LEASE AGREEMENT

This Residential Lease Agreement ("Lease") is made on [DATE] between [LANDLORD NAME] ("Landlord" or "Lessor") and [TENANT NAME] ("Tenant" or "Lessee"), governed by the Vermont Residential Rental Agreements Act, 9 V.S.A. Chapter 137.

  1. PARTIES & PREMISES Landlord leases to Tenant the residential property located at [FULL RENTAL ADDRESS], Vermont, together with [any parking, storage, or included appliances], for use as a residence only.

  2. TERM This Lease begins on [START DATE] and [ends on [END DATE] as a fixed term / continues month-to-month, starting on [START DATE]].

  3. RENT Tenant shall pay $[AMOUNT] per month, due on the [DAY] of each month. Vermont's Chapter 137 sets no statutory late-fee cap and no mandated grace period, so the parties agree here that a late fee of $[AMOUNT] applies if rent is not paid by [DATE/GRACE PERIOD], as stated in this Lease.

  4. SECURITY DEPOSIT Tenant shall pay a security deposit of $[AMOUNT]. Vermont sets no statutory cap on this amount. Under 9 V.S.A. Section 4461, Landlord must return the deposit, with a written statement itemizing (listing item by item) any deductions, within 14 days after Tenant vacates the unit (60 days if this is a seasonal unit not intended as a primary residence). Failure to meet that deadline forfeits Landlord's right to withhold any part of the deposit.

  5. DISCLOSURES If this property was built before 1978, Landlord shall provide, before Tenant signs, the federal Lead-Based Paint disclosure (42 U.S.C. 4852d) and, under 18 V.S.A. Section 1759(d)(1), Vermont-approved written materials on lead hazards along with a copy of Landlord's current Essential Maintenance Practices (EMP) compliance statement. [ATTACH DISCLOSURE FORMS.]

  6. ENTRY Landlord may enter the unit only between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on at least 48 hours' notice to inspect the premises, make agreed repairs, supply agreed services, or show the unit to a prospective buyer, lender, tenant, worker, or contractor (9 V.S.A. Section 4460). Landlord may enter without notice only if there is a reasonable belief of imminent danger to a person or the property.

  7. MAINTENANCE & USE Tenant shall keep the unit clean and undamaged beyond normal wear, use it only as a residence, and promptly notify Landlord of needed repairs. Landlord shall keep the unit fit for habitation.

  8. TERMINATION Either party may end a month-to-month tenancy without cause on written notice of at least 60 days if Tenant has resided in the unit for two years or less, or 90 days if more than two years (9 V.S.A. Section 4467). Landlord may terminate for nonpayment of rent on at least 14 days' notice to pay the amount due. Any rent increase for a month-to-month tenancy takes effect on at least 60 days' notice (9 V.S.A. Section 4455).

SIGNATURES

_____________________________ Date: [DATE] [LANDLORD NAME], Landlord

_____________________________ Date: [DATE] [TENANT NAME], Tenant

Note: No notary or witness is required to sign a Vermont residential lease. This is a Vermont skeleton governed by 9 V.S.A. Chapter 137 (the Vermont Residential Rental Agreements Act). For the complete, customizable template, see the full Residential Lease Agreement template.

Vermont Requirements for Residential Lease Agreement

Return the Security Deposit Within 14 Days

Vermont sets no statutory cap on the security deposit amount, but under 9 V.S.A. Section 4461 the landlord must return it, with a written statement itemizing (listing item by item) any deductions, within 14 days after the tenant vacates (60 days for a seasonal unit not intended as a primary residence). Missing the deadline forfeits the landlord's right to withhold any part of the deposit.

Give the Federal Lead-Based Paint Disclosure

For any rental built before 1978, the landlord must give the tenant the federal Lead-Based Paint disclosure and an EPA-approved pamphlet before the lease is signed, as required nationwide under 42 U.S.C. 4852d.

Provide Vermont's Lead Hazard EMP Compliance Statement

Before entering into a lease for pre-1978 housing, Vermont's landlord must also provide state-approved written materials on lead hazards and a copy of the owner's most recent Essential Maintenance Practices (EMP) compliance statement, under 18 V.S.A. Section 1759(d)(1).

Give 48 Hours' Notice Before Entry

A landlord may enter the dwelling unit only between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on at least 48 hours' notice, to inspect, make agreed repairs or improvements, supply agreed services, or show the unit to a prospective buyer, lender, tenant, worker, or contractor (9 V.S.A. Section 4460). Entry without notice is limited to a reasonable belief of imminent danger to a person or the property.

No Statutory Late-Fee Cap or Grace Period

Vermont's Residential Rental Agreements Act (9 V.S.A. Chapter 137) sets no statutory cap on a residential late fee and does not require a grace period before one applies. Because the statute is silent, state the late-fee amount and any grace period in the lease itself so both parties know the rule.

Give Statutory Notice to End a Month-to-Month Tenancy

A no-cause termination of a month-to-month tenancy requires at least 60 days' actual notice for a tenant who has resided in the unit two years or less, or 90 days' notice for a tenant who has resided more than two years (9 V.S.A. Section 4467). Termination for nonpayment of rent requires at least 14 days' notice to pay the amount due.

Give 60 Days' Notice Before Raising Rent

A rent increase for a month-to-month tenancy takes effect on the first day of the rental period following at least 60 days' actual notice to the tenant (9 V.S.A. Section 4455).

No Statewide Rent Control or Just-Cause Eviction Rule

Vermont's Residential Rental Agreements Act (9 V.S.A. Chapter 137) contains no statewide rent-control or just-cause-eviction regime. A landlord may end a month-to-month tenancy without cause as long as the statutory notice period under Section 4467 is met.

Frequently Asked Questions

A Vermont lease should identify the landlord and tenant, the rental address, the term, the rent amount and due date, the security deposit amount, and, for pre-1978 housing, the federal lead-based paint disclosure plus the state's lead hazard EMP compliance statement required by 18 V.S.A. Section 1759(d)(1). It should also state the 48-hour entry-notice rule under 9 V.S.A. Section 4460 so both sides know the ground rules going in.

Vermont sets no statutory cap on the security deposit amount; a landlord and tenant may agree to whatever figure the lease states. What is fixed by law is the return: under 9 V.S.A. Section 4461 the landlord must send the deposit back with a written itemization of any deductions within 14 days after the tenant vacates (60 days for seasonal occupancy), or forfeit the right to withhold any of it.

Yes. You can generate a Vermont residential lease agreement at no cost using this template, filling in the rental address, term, rent, and deposit details. Attorney review is available afterward as an optional add-on if you want a legal professional to look over the final lease before you sign it.

No. Vermont's Residential Rental Agreements Act (9 V.S.A. Chapter 137) does not require a lease to be notarized or witnessed to be valid. Both the landlord and tenant sign the lease, and it takes effect on the terms the parties agree to.

Generally no. Under 9 V.S.A. Section 4460 a landlord may enter for inspections, repairs, services, or showings only between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on at least 48 hours' notice. Entry without notice is limited to situations where the landlord reasonably believes there is imminent danger to a person or the property.

For housing built before 1978, the landlord must give the federal lead-based paint disclosure (42 U.S.C. 4852d) and, under 18 V.S.A. Section 1759(d)(1), Vermont-approved written materials on lead hazards along with a copy of the owner's current Essential Maintenance Practices (EMP) compliance statement, both provided before the lease is signed.

A Vermont landlord may end a month-to-month tenancy without cause on 60 days' actual notice if the tenant has resided in the unit for two years or less, or 90 days' notice if longer than two years (9 V.S.A. Section 4467). A rent increase for a month-to-month tenant takes effect on at least 60 days' notice (9 V.S.A. Section 4455), and nonpayment of rent allows termination on at least 14 days' notice to pay the amount due.

Vermont's Residential Rental Agreements Act (9 V.S.A. Chapter 137) does not set a statutory cap on late fees and does not mandate a grace period before one may be charged. Because the statute is silent, the late-fee amount and any grace period come from what the lease itself states, so read that clause carefully before signing.