Vermont Rental Lease Agreement Templates (6)

Types (6)

Commercial Lease Agreement (PDF)

Creates a binding agreement between a landlord and property owner over the lease of rental property to be used by a business tenant only.

Lease to Own Agreement (PDF)

A form commonly used by homeowners to sell their home after an initial period of leasing. A purchase price is set at the beginning of the lease that the tenants can optionally decide to act on.

Month-to-Month Lease Agreement

A lease that automatically renews in 30-day increments. Can theoretically continue on indefinitely if no party terminates the agreement.

Roommate Agreement (PDF)

Completed with the purpose of strengthening the bond between tenants that share the same rental property. Covers topics relating to rent splitting, utility payments, cleaning duties, and more.

Standard Residential Lease Agreement

Structures an agreement for the leasing of a unit or entire property for 1 year. Compliant with all applicable VT landlord-tenant laws.

Sublease Agreement (PDF)

Re-rents an already-rented unit to another tenant (known as the “subtenant”). In most cases, the landlord’s permission is required prior to executing.

What is a Vermont Lease Agreement?

A Vermont lease agreement sets the conditions that a landlord and tenant are bound by for the duration of a rental. It records the rent, maintenance obligations, and procedures for ending the tenancy.

Vermont law requires landlords to maintain rental premises in habitable condition and in compliance with all applicable building and housing codes.[5] The state also mandates disclosure of any lead paint hazards in pre-1978 buildings and gives tenants the right to request an energy efficiency audit of the rental unit.

State Laws & Guides

Laws: Chapter 137 – “Residential Rental Agreements”

Landlord-Tenant Guides / Handbooks

• Vermont Renting 101.pdf
• The Definitive Guide to Renting in Vermont.pdf
• Renting in Vermont – Information Handbook for Tenants and Landlords.pdf

When is Rent Due?

Tenants must make rent payments to the landlord at the time and location agreed upon in the written lease.[3] There is no grace period provided by state law.

Landlord’s Access

Emergency: Vermont law provides landlords with the right to enter without notice so long as the landlord believes there is imminent danger to the tenant(s) or the rental unit.[4]

Non-Emergency: Landlords can access rental dwellings with the tenant’s consent, or by providing notice at least 48 hours in advance of their entry. Entry can only be made between 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM.[4] Entry can only be made for the following reasons:

1. To inspect the rental or premises.
2. To make repairs, alterations, or improvements to the rental.
3. To provide agreed-upon services.
4. To show the rental unit to potential buyers, renters, workers/contractors, or mortgagees.

Landlord’s Duties

Landlords are required to comply with the following (in addition to the duties established by the lease):[5]

1. Keep the rental and premises safe, clean, and livable. The property should fully comply with all applicable health, housing, and building codes and regulations.
2. Provide tenants with heat and water, unless the rental is for summer occupancy only or is a hunting camp.

Tenant’s Duties

In Vermont, tenants are required to comply with the following:[6]

1. Not cause the rental to be noncompliant with local building, housing, and health codes or laws.
2. Act in a way (and require visiting guests to conduct themselves in a way) that does not disturb neighboring tenants’ enjoyment of the premises.
3. Unless the written lease specifies otherwise (or required by law), terminate tenancies by providing landlords a notice equal to the length of 1 payment period prior to the date included in the notice.
4. Not alter, damage, deface, or remove any part of the rental or surrounding premises (or allow a guest to do the same).
5. In the event the tenant violates any of these duties, they may need to pay for the landlord’s reasonable attorney’s fees and/or damages that resulted from their violation.

Required Disclosures

• Lead Paint Disclosure – Should a landlord be aware of any lead paint hazards in their rental property that was built before 1978, they are required to disclose this information to their tenants. They are also required to provide tenants with a government-produced pamphlet on the topic.

Security Deposits

Maximum: No statute; there is no upper limit on the amount landlords can charge. Charging tenants the equivalent of 1 to 2 months of rent is standard.

Return to Tenant: Landlords are required to return security deposits within 14 days from the date on which the landlord discovers the rental has been abandoned, or after the tenants move out and provide notice of their vacancy.[7] If the landlord will make deductions, the security deposit must be accompanied with a written statement listing any deductions.

For seasonal leases and in cases where the rental property is not intended as a primary residence, the security deposit and written statement must be returned within 60 days.

Deposit Interest: Landlords may be required to collect and pay out interest from tenants’ security deposits per local ordinances.[7]

Uses of the Deposit: Deductions can be made from tenants’ deposits for any of the following reasons:[7]

1. To cover outstanding rent.
2. To repair damage to the rental property (so long as the damage is not standard wear and tear, or a result of something beyond the tenant’s control).
3. To pay for expenses that resulted from the landlord needing to remove a tenant’s possessions left abandoned in a rental unit.
4. To pay for any unpaid utility or other charges that the tenant was required to pay per the lease agreement.