Vermont Rent Increase Notice Letter

State Cap: No statute. Statewide, Vermont has no limit on rent increase amounts.

Notice Period: Statewide, landlords must provide at least 60 days‘ written notice before a rent increase takes effect, and the increase must begin on the first day of a rental period (9 V.S.A. § 4455(b)). Locally in Burlington, city ordinance mandates at least 90 days‘ advance written notice before a rent increase can take effect (Burlington Code of Ordinances § 18-29a(c)). On fixed-term leases, rent cannot be increased prior to lease expiration unless explicitly authorized by the contract.

Proof of Service: Statewide rules require actual notice in writing (9 V.S.A. § 4451(1)). Legal service across Vermont is established by handing the written notice directly to the tenant or mailing it to the tenant’s last known address (9 V.S.A. § 4451(1)). 

Prohibited Acts: Landlords cannot raise rent as retaliation against a tenant for reporting health or housing code violations, complaining to a housing authority, or joining a tenant organization (9 V.S.A. § 4465). Rent increases are also illegal if done for discriminatory reasons under the Vermont Fair Housing and Public Accommodations Act (9 V.S.A. § 4503).