Bill > S0309

This bill makes significant changes to Vermont's residential rental laws, including modifying eviction procedures and establishing a pilot program for positive rental payment credit reporting. Key provisions include shortening the notice period for terminating tenancies for nonpayment of rent to seven days and for breaches of the rental agreement to 21 days, while also expanding the reasons for termination and requiring landlords to provide specific details supporting the termination. It also creates a new "just cause ejectment process" in Superior Court, which aims to streamline evictions for specific reasons and includes provisions for expedited hearings and a prohibition on jury trials. To protect tenants, the bill introduces measures to make ejectment records confidential, meaning they will not be publicly accessible or reported by consumer reporting agencies unless certain conditions are met, effectively allowing tenants to state they have no prior ejectment history if the record remains confidential. Furthermore, it establishes a two-year pilot program managed by the State Treasurer to allow tenants to have their timely rent payments reported to credit bureaus, potentially improving their creditworthiness, and allocates funds for this program and for landlord and tenant education through the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO). The bill also clarifies definitions related to rental agreements, limits application fees landlords can charge, and sets a maximum security deposit at two months' rent, with a transition period for existing agreements.

Justice

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/S.309