Bill > H0440

This bill provides comprehensive protections against no-cause evictions and rent increases for residential tenants in Vermont. The legislation restricts landlords from terminating tenancies without specific, legally authorized reasons, such as nonpayment of rent, rental agreement breaches, or very limited circumstances like owner occupancy or major renovations. When a landlord terminates a tenancy for no cause, they must now provide at least three months' notice and pay reasonable relocation expenses equivalent to one month's rent. The bill also introduces rent increase limitations, capping annual rent hikes at either three percent plus the Consumer Price Index or eight percent, whichever is lower, and requiring 90 days' advance notice of any rent increase. These protections do not apply during the first six months of a tenant's occupancy, and specific exceptions exist for owner-occupied two or three-unit buildings and shared occupancy arrangements. The bill defines "immediate family" broadly to prevent circumvention of the rules and clarifies that rental agreement expiration alone does not constitute a valid cause for termination. The new regulations will take effect on July 1, 2025, giving landlords and tenants time to understand and prepare for the changes.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.440