Bill > H0474

This bill proposes to approve amendments to the charter of the City of Burlington to authorize the City Council to adopt an ordinance prohibiting the eviction of residential tenants without "just cause." The bill defines "just cause" to include a tenant's material breach of a rental agreement, violation of state laws governing tenant obligations, nonpayment of rent, and failure to accept reasonable renewal terms. The ordinance would exclude the expiration of a rental agreement as the sole grounds for termination and provide exemptions for certain properties, such as owner-occupied duplexes and triplexes. The bill also requires the ordinance to include provisions that mitigate impacts on tenants and property owners, provide for a probationary period, and limit unreasonable rent increases to prevent de facto evictions.