Bill > H0772

This bill makes several changes to Vermont's residential rental laws, including expanding the definition of "actual notice" for landlords to include email and posting on the door, limiting rent increases to once every 12 months, and prohibiting landlords from charging application fees while allowing them to charge for background and credit checks with certain conditions. It also modifies security deposit rules, such as limiting them to two months' rent plus an optional pet deposit, and clarifies the timeline for returning deposits, with specific provisions for situations where a landlord terminates a tenancy due to domestic violence or other serious issues. The bill also introduces new procedures for ejectment actions, which is a legal process to remove a tenant, and allows for alternative service of legal documents in such cases. Additionally, it establishes a two-year pilot program managed by the State Treasurer's Office to report positive rental payment information to credit bureaus, aiming to help tenants build credit, and creates a program through the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) to provide education and technical assistance to both landlords and tenants. Finally, the bill addresses the issue of property remaining after an eviction, allowing landlords to dispose of it more quickly, and allows landlords to issue trespass orders against a tenant's guests or licensees who violate lease terms or laws.

Budget and Finance, Housing and Urban Affairs, Justice

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.772