Free Vermont Residential Lease Agreement
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What Is a Vermont Residential Lease Agreement
A VT lease agreement is a legally binding contract between a landlord and a tenant. This is written to conform to state laws where the property is located. In Vermont, these allow both parties to comply with a series of set terms for a specified number of months or years.
Rental contracts and lease agreements have a lot of similarities as they both set out payment plans and the terms of use for a house or apartment.
However, the big difference is the duration that they cover. Rental agreements usually only cover short-term tenancies of a few months at a time or month-to-month contracts. Leases, on the other hand, cover a set number of months or years.
A lease agreement should contain the following details:
How long the tenant may legally reside in the property
How much rent should be paid
Information about the security deposits necessary
When rental installments are due
Any additional costs that must be serviced by the tenant
The rules regarding the proper use of the property
Situations that constitute lease violation eviction procedures
Types of Vermont Lease Agreements
Before starting a Vermont lease agreement, it is important to know which type to create. There are many distinct varieties of these legal instruments, and each deals with a different type of rental situation.
The most common types of lease agreements in Vermont include:
Type of Lease Agreement | Description |
---|---|
Standard | Fixed set of terms that both the landlord and tenant commit to for a series of months or years. |
Rent-to-own | Rent-to-own options allow the possibility for tenants to purchase the property they are renting. |
Month-to-month | Similar basic terms to standard lease agreements, but they can be terminated for any reason with 60 days’ notice. However, if the tenant has lived in the property for over 2 years parties must give 90 days’ notice (§ 4467). |
Commercial | Utilized by tenants that intend to use a piece of real estate to run a business. |
Room rental | For rental properties that are located within shared living areas. |
Sublease | Permits tenants to assign or “sublease” the property to another person. |
Vermont Lease Addendums and Disclosures
There are various disclosures and addendums that must be contained within Vermont lease agreementswhen they are completed and signed. These are made to inform the tenant about any health risks, potential issues, or details about how the property is managed.
The list below includes the essential addendums in Vermont:
Lead paint disclosure: Landlords must disclose whether lead paint can be found on the property (if the building was constructed before 1978).
Vermont Lease Agreement Laws
For aVermont lease agreement to be legally binding and valid, it must be written according to the laws of VT state. If this is not done properly, the contract will be legally contestable and could be declared invalid when put under scrutiny. These rules will also determine what kind of procedures and terms you may ask the tenant to abide by.
The overview below includes the most important laws to consider when renting a property in Vermont:
Law | Specifics |
---|---|
Security deposit | Landlords in Vermont have no legal cap on what they can
charge for a security deposit.
However, they must return the sum within 14 days of when the tenant leaves the property at the end of the lease (§ 4461). The only exception is if the property was used as a seasonal residence rather than as a primary dwelling. In this case, the landlord has up to 60 days to return the deposit. |
Landlord’s right to enter | 48 hours’ advance notice must be given by landlords before visiting the rental property. They must also only enter between the hours of 9 AM to 9 PM when they do so (§ 4460). |
Vermont Residential Lease Agreement Sample
Creating and putting a lease agreement into action in Vermont is a major commitment. It can help to explore an example template first to get a clear idea of what information should be found in your completed document.
Our sample Vermont lease agreement below can help you understand the details included in this legal arrangement a little better.

Other Real Estate Documents
Besides lease agreements, there are various other legal documents that are commonly used by landlords. If you are the owner of a rental property, one of the following forms may be helpful for you:
FAQs About Vermont Lease Agreement
It is important to carefully prepare a Vermont lease agreement to suit the needs of the landlord and tenant exactly. To help demystify the process a little, simply review our FAQs below to learn more about the specificities of rental contracts in Vermont.
Can You Write Your Own Lease Agreement in Vermont?
It is possible to create a Vermont lease agreement completely online. Using our residential lease agreement maker you can tailor your document for your specific needs and take advantage of professional templates and expert tips.
Can I Enforce a Verbal Agreement With My Tenant in Vermont?
It’s important to have a written Vermont lease agreement in operation whether you are a landlord or a tenant.
There are many advantages to having a formal contract for a rental property such as the right to recourse if the terms are violated and the protection of important legal rights for rental property owners and residents.
Can a Lease Agreement Be Broken in Vermont?
Usually, a Vermont lease agreement cannot be changed once it is signed. Its terms will remain fixed until it reaches its agreed expiration date or it is terminated due to a violation by either party.
With a rental agreement or month-by-month tenancy, the landlord or tenant can choose to terminate the agreement after 60 days’ notice. If the tenant has been on the property for over 2 years this increases to 90 days.

You are only a few steps away from your own Vermont Lease Agreement!