Here is what tenants should know about Vermont rent increase laws for 2025:
No Statewide Rent Control
Vermont does not have statewide rent control laws limiting how much landlords can raise rent. Landlords are generally free to increase rent by any amount, provided proper procedures are followed. There is a pending bill (House Bill 135) aiming to cap annual rent increases to 6% or the inflation rate, but it is not yet law.
Required Written Notice
Landlords must give tenants at least 60 days’ written notice for rent increases to take effect. This notice can be mailed or hand-delivered and must specify the new rent amount and its effective date. In Burlington, the notice period extends to 90 days due to local ordinances.
Rent Increase Frequency and Limits
There is no legal limit on how often a landlord can raise rent as long as each increase follows the notice requirement. Rent increases must be reasonable and justifiable based on market conditions. Tenants can challenge excessive or retaliatory hikes. Lease terms may restrict increases during the lease period.
Tenant Protections
Tenants have the right to challenge improper rent increases, including those without proper notice or deemed excessive. Lease agreements protect tenants by locking in rent during the lease term unless otherwise specified. Vermont law forbids landlords from raising rent arbitrarily during a fixed lease term.
Landlord Obligations
Landlords must maintain safe, livable conditions and provide proper notice before rent increases. Failure to comply with these duties can result in tenant remedies or legal action. Landlords are expected to justify rent hikes with supporting evidence when challenged.
Vermont tenants in 2025 should expect no statewide limits on rent increases but benefit from strong notice requirements and protections against unreasonable hikes.
Sources
(https://www.steadily.com/blog/rent-increase-laws-regulations-vermont)
(https://www.hemlane.com/resources/vermont-rent-control-laws/)
(https://www.reddit.com/r/vermont/comments/1lpcs35/question_about_rent_increase_laws_in_vt/)
(https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/09/137/04455)
(https://www.vermontpublic.org/local-news/2024-12-17/a-wild-imbalance-lawmakers-unlikely-to-tackle-tenant-law-in-2025
