If you’re a landlord who’s ever had to evict a tenant, you’ll know that it’s not an easy thing to face. The truth is they’re rarely easy. However, with 1,700 evictions filed each year in Vermont, it’s something that you’re likely to encounter at some point, and when you do, it’s essential that you know how to protect your rental property and your financial interests.
Regardless of whether it’s due to unpaid rent, lease violations or other rental agreement breaches, it’s imperative that you have a firm understanding of Vermont eviction laws. Equipped with this knowledge, you’ll greatly increase the chances of a smooth eviction process.
As such, when landlords in the Green Mountain State attempt to evict a tenant, Vermont law mandates that specific legal steps must be followed. As we’ll cover in more detail in this article, this includes things like serving the right eviction notice, complying with Vermont statute and, if necessary, filing an eviction case with the Vermont judiciary.
When you don’t follow the correct steps, you can end up being faced with delays, legal disputes, and even having your case dismissed. We know that the process can feel overwhelming, but when you have the right information, it can make all the difference. So, come with us now as we go through what you need to know to stay on the right side of state law.
Understanding Vermont Eviction Laws
The first thing to know about Vermont eviction laws is that they outline a legal framework that must be followed when attempting to remove a tenant from a rental property. These rules cover everything to do with rental agreements and lease agreements, and they’re designed to ensure that both sides have protection while understanding their responsibilities.
Knowing these laws is crucial in terms of staying compliant with Vermont landlord tenant law, as well as preventing any legal missteps. Here’s what it says about evictions:
When starting an eviction, you, as the landlord, must first provide an appropriate eviction notice in line with state law. The exact notice type that applies (and the time involved) will depend on the reason the eviction is happening (e.g. unpaid rent or a lease agreement violation).
Then, should your tenant not comply, your next step is to file an eviction case in the civil division of the Vermont judiciary. During these eviction proceedings, Vermont tenants are able to reach out to Vermont legal aid for support, and all eviction cases are overseen by the civil division, to make sure that both tenants and the landlord follow the proper procedures.
Pro Tip: Keep written records of lease violations and late payments—courts favor landlords with solid documentation.
What Notice Do Vermont Eviction Laws Require That Landlords Provide Tenants Before Starting the Eviction Process?
As we touched upon a moment ago, Vermont landlords are obligated to provide their tenants with the appropriate Vermont eviction notice as per state law. The notice periods vary depending on the infraction, so let’s take a look at what you need to know in this regard.
- Type #1: The Pay or Quit Notice: This is the one you’ll use when your tenants haven’t paid their rent on time. This unpaid rent notice gives your tenant 14 days to pay what’s overdue or face eviction.
- Type #2: The Cure or Quit Notice: If the eviction is to do with a lease agreement violation (e.g. unauthorized pets, property damage, etc.), then the tenant will have 30 days within which they must correct the problem.
- Type #3: The Unconditional Quit Notice: When the reason for eviction is severe, such as when illegal activity is occurring at your rental property, the tenant gets 14 days to vacate. However, here, they do not get an opportunity to remedy the situation.
- Type #4: Termination Notice for Month-to-Month Tenancies: If you’re ending a month-to-month tenancy without cause, you must provide 30 days' notice if the tenant has lived there for less than two years or 60 days' notice if they have lived there for two years or more. Some areas, like Burlington, may require longer notice periods.
If you don’t provide the correct notice, it can delay the eviction process or even result in the case being dismissed. Each type of notice serves a specific purpose, so it’s essential to choose the right one.
Pro Tip: Deliver termination notices at the start of a rental period to prevent confusion—Vermont law requires the notice to align with the tenant’s rent cycle.
How Do Vermont Eviction Laws Affect Me as a Rental Property Owner?
Vermont eviction laws shape how landlords handle lease agreements, tenant disputes, and property management decisions. These laws determine when and how a landlord can remove a tenant, what notices must be given, and the legal risks involved if procedures aren’t followed correctly. So, what can you do to minimise the impact these laws have on your profitability?
Tenant Screening
A great way to avoid evictions entirely - something you find out more about later in this blog - is thorough tenant screening. This involves running background checks, verifying income and checking their rental history, and it serves to ensure you get reliable tenants who are much less likely to cause you problems.
Tools like TenantCloud’s portable tenant screening report allow you to make informed decisions while also complying with fair housing laws.
Rent Increases and Rent Control
While Vermont does not have statewide rent control, some cities have local regulations that may affect eviction timelines. For example, if your tenant disputes a rent increase, they may choose to withhold payment, delaying when you can serve an eviction notice. Some areas also require longer notice periods for rent increases, further pushing back the eviction process. That’s why landlords should be fully aware of changes to Vermont’s rent control policies.
Pro Tip: Set clear rent policies upfront—tenants who understand expectations are less likely to challenge evictions.
Related: How to Identify Your Most Profitable Rentals with the 80/20 Rule
Exploring The Legal Process for Evictions in Vermont
So, you’ve served your eviction notice, and your tenant has neither rectified the problem (by making their rent payments or dealing with the lease violation) nor vacated. Now what? Well, the next part of the eviction process begins, which means filing an eviction complaint. Let’s see how that goes.
Step 1: Filing an Eviction Complaint in Civil Division Courts
You’ll be serving your eviction complaint with the civil division of the Vermont judiciary. After doing so, the court will usually schedule a hearing within a few weeks. However, it can stretch out to a few months, depending on the court’s caseload and the specifics of your case.
Step 2: Arriving for Your Day in Court
The hearing is the chance for both sides to make their case. At this point, you’ll need to prove that your eviction complaint is legally justified. You’ll need to bring all documentation to the hearing, such as lease agreements, eviction notices, rent payment records and proof of lease violations.
Step 3: A Ruling is Made
After reviewing all the evidence and arguments from both sides, the judge will make a ruling. If the court rules in your favor, the eviction process moves forward, and an order for possession may be issued, requiring the tenant to vacate by a set deadline.
Depending on the circumstances, a judge may:
- Grant you possession of the property, requiring the tenant to vacate by a specific date.
- Order the tenant to pay past-due rent payments and damages.
- Dismiss the case if you didn’t follow proper legal procedures.
Pro Tip: Dress professionally and stay calm in court—judges take landlord credibility seriously.
What Are the Eviction Laws for Tenants in Subsidized Housing in Vermont?
Approximately 21,000 people live in affordable housing in Vermont, so what happens if your tenant falls into this category? Well, the eviction laws in these cases are stricter than for standard rental properties, as Vermont law offers additional tenant protections for anyone on government assistance. Of course, this is to ensure that they’re treated fairly and in compliance with federal and state guidelines.
So, if you’re dealing with a rental property like this, you must be aware of the differences it makes to Vermont eviction laws and federal housing regulations. These are the main things you should be keeping in mind when evicting someone.
- In Vermont, landlords must provide longer eviction notices for subsidized housing tenants compared to market-rate rentals. For nonpayment of rent, tenants must get at least 14 days' notice, while lease violations require 30 days, and no-cause terminations need 60 days' notice for month-to-month tenancies.
- Unlike private leases, landlords of affordable housing units cannot evict a tenant without a legally valid reason, such as non-payment of rent, violation of lease terms, or criminal activity. What this means is that a landlord can’t evict someone just because they feel like it.
- Also, some government programs require an extra administrative review before proceeding with eviction proceedings, which can add a considerable amount of time to the process.
How Vermont Law Helps Subsidized Housing Tenants Facing Eviction
There are several organizations that exist to provide legal aid and support to tenants in subsidized housing, in addition to Vermont Law Help programs offering resources for tenants facing eviction, including the following:
- Legal representation for low-income tenants in eviction proceedings.
- Mediation services to help resolve disputes between tenants and landlords.
- Financial assistance programs that help cover unpaid rent to prevent eviction.
For landlords managing these kinds of properties, knowing how subsidized housing regulations impact evictions is just as important. That’s because handling the process correctly reduces your legal risks while ensuring that you abide by Vermont landlord tenant law.
Common Legal Defenses Tenants Use Against Eviction
While winning your case in court is the desired outcome, it’s not a given. That’s because, as we’ve mentioned, Vermont tenants have the right to make their defense. The question is, what can add weight to their case? Any of the following could result in a ruling against you.
- Failure to Maintain the Rental Unit - Under tenant rights, landlords must keep the rental unit in a habitable condition. As such, if you’ve not been keeping on top of things and your tenant can prove that the property has serious health or safety violations—such as mold, lack of heat, or plumbing issues—the court may rule in their favor.
Retaliatory Evictions - As a landlord, you cannot evict a tenant in retaliation for making complaints about housing conditions or reporting violations to authorities. If it’s proven they’re being evicted for exercising their legal rights, a retaliatory eviction can be a strong defense.
- Housing Discrimination - If it can be demonstrated that you’re evicting someone based on race, disability, sexual orientation, or any protected class, you could find your case being investigated by the Vermont Human Rights Commission, which could result in the eviction being blocked and you facing legal consequences.
- Improper Termination Notice: If you failed to provide the right eviction notice that meets legal requirements, the eviction could be ruled as invalid.
- Payment of Rent: In the event of an unpaid rent eviction, your tenant might claim that they’ve paid all owed rent. If it can be proven, this can be a defense against eviction.
Pro Tip: Tenants who fight eviction often know their rights—make sure you know yours better.
How to Prevent Evictions Before They Happen
We think you’ll agree that everything we’ve spoken about so far sounds like a lot of hard work and hassle, but for Vermont landlords, there’s a lot that can be done via proactive lease management to ensure it never reaches this point. By setting expectations from the start and taking swift action when problems arise, landlords can reduce the risk of eviction proceedings and financial losses. Let’s take a look at some of these measures.
Set Clear Lease Terms
A well-structured lease agreement is one of the most effective tools available to you for avoiding disputes. That’s because when you clearly outline rent payment schedules, as well as their maintenance responsibilities and consequences for lease violations, it helps ensure that they understand their obligations.
Address Issues Before They Escalate
Many landlords make the mistake of waiting too long before addressing late rent payment or damages to their property. When you take a proactive approach, such as by offering a payment plan to someone who’s behind with their payments, you can stop things from escalating into an eviction notice.
Conducting Regular Property Inspections
Routine inspections aren’t just for spotting potential maintenance issues early, as they also allow you to see any lease violations that might be occurring, such as people who shouldn’t be there or neglect on the part of your tenant. This type of early intervention helps to nip things in the bud and avoid the need for legal action.
Pro Tip: A tenant who feels heard is less likely to fight you—address concerns early, communicate openly, and you might solve problems before eviction is ever on the table.
Related: The Best Communication Tools for Property Managers
TenantCloud – Making Life Easier for Landlords in Vermont in 2025
There’s no point sugarcoating it - evicting a tenant can be a tough decision to make. However, it’s necessary to ensure that your rental property stays protected. As we’ve seen in this article, when you follow Vermont eviction laws to the letter and document everything, you’ll make sure that the eviction process is as smooth as possible. Also, by staying informed on tenant protections, you’ll be in a much better position to deal with these situations with ease.
Something else that’s designed to make your life easier as a Vermont landlord is TenantCloud, the feature-rich platform built for property management professionals. From tenant screening to automated rent collection, our tools help streamline your responsibilities, giving you more time to focus on growing your business.
So, if you’re looking for a more efficient way to manage your rental property, take a few minutes to explore our website and see how TenantCloud can enhance your workflow. Or, if you’d like to speak with our team about your specific needs, call 1-737-300-9331 today.
