What do Vermont landlord tenant laws say about repairs, entry and deposits?

Vermont landlord tenant hours and days, with sources

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What repairs is a landlord responsible for in Vermont?

Section 4457(a) of Title 9 sets the landlord's warranty of habitability in any residential rental agreement: “In any residential rental agreement, the landlord shall be deemed to covenant and warrant to deliver over and maintain, throughout the period of the tenancy, premises that are safe, clean, and fit for human habitation and that comply with the requirements of applicable building, housing, and health regulations.” (Vermont Statutes Title 9 § 4457), read 2026-10-29.

Section 4457(b) adds: “No rental agreement shall contain any provision by which the tenant waives the protections of the implied warranty of habitability.” (Vermont Statutes Title 9 § 4457) A waiver of that kind in a rental agreement is, under 4457(b), deemed contrary to public policy, unenforceable and void.

For a landlord who provides heat as part of the rental agreement, 4457(c) says: “Every landlord who provides heat as part of the rental agreement shall at all times supply a reasonable amount of heat to the dwelling unit.” (Vermont Statutes Title 9 § 4457) Subsection 4457(c) does not apply to a dwelling unit intended and rented for summer occupancy or as a hunting camp.

The same subsection 4457(c) covers water, outside summer occupancy and hunting camp units: “The landlord shall provide an adequate amount of water to each dwelling unit properly connected with hot and cold water lines.” (Vermont Statutes Title 9 § 4457)

For a habitability repair at a rental, such as heat, hot water or a plumbing fix, you can post the job on InstaBids and get written bids on one scope.

How long does a landlord have to make repairs in Vermont?

Section 4458(a) sets a reasonable time after actual notice, with no day count, where the noncompliance materially affects health and safety: “If the landlord fails to comply with the landlord’s obligations for habitability and, after receiving actual notice of the noncompliance from the tenant, a governmental entity or a qualified independent inspector, the landlord fails to make repairs within a reasonable time and the noncompliance materially affects health and safety, the tenant may:” (Vermont Statutes Title 9 § 4458), read 2026-10-29. The 4458 remedies do not reach noncompliance caused by the negligent or deliberate act or omission of the tenant or a person on the premises with the tenant's consent (4458(b)).

For a minor defect, 4459(a) counts 30 days of notice: “If within 30 days of notice, the landlord fails to repair a minor defect in order to comply with this chapter or a material provision of the rental agreement, the tenant may repair the defect and deduct from the rent the actual and reasonable cost of the work, not to exceed one-half of one month’s rent.” (Vermont Statutes Title 9 § 4459) Under 4459(b) that remedy does not reach noncompliance caused by the tenant or a person on the premises with the tenant's consent.

Section 4451(1) defines the actual notice those days run from: ““Actual notice” means receipt of written notice hand-delivered or mailed to the last known address.” (Vermont Statutes Title 9 § 4451)

Once a tenant reports a repair that affects health or safety, you can post that job on InstaBids with photos and compare written bids side by side.

How much notice does a landlord have to give before entering in Vermont?

Section 4460(b) sets 48 hours and a 9:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. window: “A landlord may also enter the dwelling unit for the following purposes between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 9:00 P.M. on no less than 48 hours’ notice:” (Vermont Statutes Title 9 § 4460), read 2026-10-29. One of the four purposes listed is “(2) to make necessary or agreed repairs, alterations, or improvements;” (Vermont Statutes Title 9 § 4460)

With consent, 4460(a) says: “A landlord may enter the dwelling unit with the tenant’s consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.” (Vermont Statutes Title 9 § 4460) Under 4460(c), a landlord may only enter without consent or notice when the landlord has a reasonable belief that there is imminent danger to any person or to property.

For repair work that needs entry to a rental unit, you can post the job on InstaBids and pick a contractor from written bids before anyone comes over.

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Vermont?

Section 4461(c) sets 14 days with a written statement: “A landlord shall return the security deposit along with a written statement itemizing any deductions to a tenant within 14 days from the date on which the landlord discovers that the tenant vacated or abandoned the dwelling unit or the date the tenant vacated the dwelling unit, provided the landlord received notice from the tenant of that date.” (Vermont Statutes Title 9 § 4461), read 2026-10-29.

For a seasonal rental, 4461(c) goes on: “In the case of the seasonal occupancy and rental of a dwelling unit not intended as a primary residence, the security deposit and written statement shall be returned within 60 days.” (Vermont Statutes Title 9 § 4461)

Section 4461(e) sets what follows a late return: “If a landlord fails to return the security deposit with a statement within 14 days, the landlord forfeits the right to withhold any portion of the security deposit.” (Vermont Statutes Title 9 § 4461) If the failure is willful, 4461(e) makes the landlord liable for double the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney's fees and costs.

Among the 4461(b) grounds the landlord may retain all or a portion of the security deposit for: “(2) damage to property of the landlord, unless the damage is the result of normal wear and tear or the result of actions or events beyond the control of the tenant;” (Vermont Statutes Title 9 § 4461)

For move-out cleaning and repairs at a rental, you can post the job on InstaBids and compare written bids from several contractors.

When can a tenant withhold rent over repairs in Vermont?

Where the landlord fails to make repairs within a reasonable time after actual notice and the noncompliance materially affects health and safety, 4458(a) lists as the first remedy: “(1) withhold the payment of rent for the period of the noncompliance;” (Vermont Statutes Title 9 § 4458) Read 2026-10-29. Not if the noncompliance was caused by the tenant or a person on the premises with the tenant's consent (4458(b)).

The 4458(a) remedies start only after the landlord receives actual notice of the noncompliance from the tenant, a governmental entity or a qualified independent inspector, and fails to make repairs within a reasonable time; they do not reach noncompliance caused by the tenant or a person on the premises with the tenant's consent (4458(b)).

When a repair a tenant has raised is still open, you can describe it once on InstaBids, add photos and get written bids from more than one contractor.

When can a tenant end a lease over repairs in Vermont?

On the same 4458(a) conditions (a reasonable time after actual notice, noncompliance that materially affects health and safety), the fourth remedy is “(4) terminate the rental agreement on reasonable notice.” (Vermont Statutes Title 9 § 4458) Read 2026-10-29. Not if the noncompliance was caused by the tenant or a person on the premises with the tenant's consent (4458(b)).

For a larger health and safety repair, like a roof leak or a failed furnace, you can post the job on InstaBids and lay the written bids next to each other.

Who does Vermont landlord tenant law cover?

Section 4452(a) opens the exclusions of chapter 137: “Unless created to avoid the application of this chapter, this chapter does not apply to any of the following:” (Vermont Statutes Title 9 § 4452), read 2026-10-29. The ten listed include occupancy at an institution, under a contract of sale, by a member of a fraternal, social, or religious organization, transient hotel or motel occupancy, a manufactured home lot and a campground. The same 4452(a) list puts occupancy by the owner of a condominium unit or the holder of a proprietary lease in a cooperative outside chapter 137.

For general upkeep at a residential rental, from a broken window to a worn floor, a property manager can post the job on InstaBids and get written bids.

Vermont Title 9, chapter 137 rules a property manager works to

What to put in a written repair scope for a Vermont rental

• The condition in plain words, with photos, measured against the 4457(a) warranty in any residential rental agreement: premises that are safe, clean, and fit for human habitation and that comply with the requirements of applicable building, housing, and health regulations.
• The date the landlord received actual notice of the noncompliance and from whom (the tenant, a governmental entity or a qualified independent inspector), since 4458(a) turns on the landlord's repairs within a reasonable time after it, for noncompliance not caused by the tenant or a person on the premises with the tenant's consent (4458(b)).
• For a minor defect: the date of notice, since under 4459(a) the tenant may repair the minor defect and deduct if the landlord fails to repair within 30 days of notice, unless the noncompliance was caused by the tenant or a person on the premises with the tenant's consent (4459(b)).
• The entry date and time, inside 9:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M., and the date notice went out: no less than 48 hours' notice under 4460(b) to make necessary or agreed repairs.
• Where the landlord provides heat as part of the rental agreement: the heating work needed so the landlord can supply a reasonable amount of heat at all times under 4457(c) (not a summer occupancy or hunting camp unit).
• For move-out repairs: the move-out date the landlord received notice of, and a written statement itemizing any deductions, since 4461(c) sets 14 days (60 days for a seasonal rental not intended as a primary residence).

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Calling Vermont contractors one by one, or one written scope?

Calling contractors one by one gets as many ideas of the repair as calls. With one written scope that names the condition against the 4457(a) warranty that, in any residential rental agreement, the landlord shall be deemed to covenant and warrant to deliver over and maintain fit premises, you describe it once, contractors bid in writing on that scope, and you choose who gets your number.

Property managers can post a rental job on InstaBids today.

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Sources

• Vermont Statutes Title 9 § 4451, read 2026-10-29: legislature.vermont.gov
• Vermont Statutes Title 9 § 4461, read 2026-10-29: legislature.vermont.gov
• Vermont Statutes Title 9 § 4460, read 2026-10-29: legislature.vermont.gov
• Vermont Statutes Title 9 § 4452, read 2026-10-29: legislature.vermont.gov
• Vermont Statutes Title 9 § 4457, read 2026-10-29: legislature.vermont.gov
• Vermont Statutes Title 9 § 4459, read 2026-10-29: legislature.vermont.gov
• Vermont Statutes Title 9 § 4458, read 2026-10-29: legislature.vermont.gov
• Vermont Statutes Title 9 § 4455, read 2026-10-29: legislature.vermont.gov