Free Vermont Residential Lease Agreement

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Table of Contents:

What Is a Vermont Residential Lease Agreement
Types of Vermont Lease Agreements
Vermont Lease Addendums and Disclosures
Vermont Residential Lease Agreement Sample
Other Real Estate Documents
FAQs About Vermont Lease Agreement

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).

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.

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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!

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Preview of your Vermont Residential Lease Agreement

RESIDENTIAL LEASE AGREEMENT

THIS LEASE AGREEMENT (hereinafter, the "Lease Agreement") is dated as of ________ day of ________________, ________ (hereinafter, the "Effective Date") and is entered into by and between the following parties:

_________

(hereinafter the "Landlord")

- AND _________

(hereinafter the "Tenant(s)")

The Landlord and the Tenant(s) agree as follows:

1. The Landlord rents to the Tenant(s) and the Tenant(s) rents to the Landlord a house, located at _________ (hereinafter the "Property"), for the sole use as a personal residence.

2. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, only the Tenant(s) mentioned in this Lease Agreement will be permitted to live on the Property. No other person will be allowed to live on the Property without the prior written consent of the Landlord.

PETS

3. No animal or pet shall be kept, permanently or temporarily, on or about the Property, even temporarily or with a visiting guest. As provided by law, a Service Animal(s) is not considered a pet, and every individual with a disability shall have a right to have a Service Animal(s) on the Property.

PARKING

4. Parking spaces for motor vehicles or motorcycles are not provided nor permitted on the Property under this Lease Agreement.

SMOKING

5. Smoking is not allowed in or on any area of the Property, including individual units and common areas, both indoors and outdoors. This policy applies to all owners, tenants, or guests.

If the Tenant(s) contravenes this provision by smoking or allowing guests to smoke in any place on the property, then such Tenant(s) shall be held liable for any damages caused to the Property. The violation of this provision shall be considered a just cause for the eviction of the Tenant(s) by the Landlord.

VAPING

6. Vaping is not allowed in or on any area of the Property, including individual units and common areas, both indoors and outdoors.

TERM

7. The term of the Lease Agreement begins on _________ (hereinafter, the "Commencement Date") and shall terminate on _________ (hereinafter, the "Termination Date").

8. The Parties must comply with the law of the State of Vermont in any notification to end this tenancy.

RENT

9. The Tenant(s) shall pay the Landlord Rent in the amount of $_________ per week (hereinafter, the "Rent").

10. The Tenant(s) shall pay the Landlord Rent weekly prior to or on _________ day of every week during the term of this Lease Agreement at _________ or at such other place as the Landlord may designate later by:

11. The Landlord may increase the Rent that will be paid for the Property by providing a reasonable notice to the Tenant(s) that the Rent will increase.

Under the law of the State of Vermont, the Landlord shall give the Tenant(s) a 60 days' notice of the Rent increase.

INSPECTIONS

12. The Parties will inspect the property to evaluate its condition at the beginning and the end of the lease term.

13. The Landlord and its agents shall have the right to enter the Property at all reasonable times to inspect, repair, or show it to Prospective buyers or tenants in compliance with the law of the State of Vermont.

Under the law of the state of Vermont, the Landlord shall give the Tenant(s) a minimum of 48 hours' notice to enter the Property.

TENANT IMPROVEMENTS

14. The Tenant(s) shall not make any sort of improvements on the leased Property without the Landlord's prior written consent. All improvements made by the Tenant(s) shall become the Landlord's property and shall be surrendered with the leased premises at the termination of this Lease Agreement unless the Tenant(s) obtain written consent from the Landlord before doing any of the following:

(a) Additions
(b) Alterations
(c) Fixtures
(d) Redecorations
(e) Installing a waterbed(s).

UTILITIES

15. The Tenant(s) shall be responsible for and shall pay for all utilities and services used or consumed at the Property.

INSURANCE

16. The Tenant(s) shall not pay for any insurance to protect property belonging to such Tenant(s). However, if the property belonging to the Tenant(s) suffers any damage or loss, the Landlord will not be liable for any property that suffers any damage or loss.

17. The Tenant(s) will not be held responsible for insuring the Landlord's property in or about the premises. Further, the Tenant(s) will not be liable for either damage or loss of such property.

ATTORNEY FEES

18. In any lawsuit brought to enforce the Lease or under applicable law, the party in whose favor a judgment or decree has been rendered may recover reasonable court costs, including attorneys' fees, from the non-prevailing party.

GOVERNING LAW

19. This Lease Agreement shall be governed, construed, and interpreted by the State of Vermont.

SEVERABILITY

20. If any term or provision of this Lease Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable for any reason, the remaining provisions shall not be affected by such provision and will continue to be valid and enforceable.

21. If a court holds that any provision of this Lease Agreement is invalid or unenforceable and such provision is eliminated, the remaining provisions shall continue to have full effect.

ENTIRE AGREEMENT AND AMENDMENT OF THE LEASE

22. This Lease Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties and there are no other promises, conditions, understandings, or other agreements, whether oral or written, relating to the subject matter of this Lease. This Lease Agreement may be modified or amended in writing if it is signed by both parties.

ASSIGNMENT AND SUBLETTING

23. The Tenant(s) shall not, without the prior written consent of the Landlord, assign this Lease Agreement or any interest herein or sublet the Property or any part thereof.

DAMAGES

24. All damages done to the property shall be charged to the Tenant(s) and may be considered cause for the termination of this lease agreement.

CARE AND USE OF PROPERTY

25. The Tenant(s) shall occupy and use the Property exclusively as a residential dwelling unit. No other uses shall be allowed to the Tenant(s) other than for residential dwelling purposes, except as may be allowed by the written consent of the Landlord and if and only if the alternative use is allowed under all applicable zoning laws. In such case, the Tenant(s) shall obtain liability insurance to cover any risks associated with alternate use of the property.

Further, the Parties must comply with all health, fire, and safety regulations. Any material breach of this provision by the Tenant(s) constitutes valid grounds for eviction or lease termination.

26. The Tenant(s) accepts the Property in its present condition and state of repair and shall be given possession of the Property on the day of commencement of this Lease Agreement.

At the expiration of the lease term, the Tenant(s) shall leave and surrender the Property in as good a state and condition as they were in at the commencement of the lease term, reasonable use, wear and tear, and damages by the elements excepted.

NOTICE

27. The Tenant(s) may be reached for any matter related to this tenancy at the Property or through the following phone number and email:

(a) Name: _________.
(b) Phone: _________.
(c) Email: _________.

28. The Landlord may be reached for any matter related to this tenancy at the Property or through the following phone number and email:

(a) Name: _________.
(b) Address: _________.

The contact information for the Landlord is:

(c) Phone: _________.
(d) Email address: _________.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

29. All monetary amounts stated or referred to on this Lease are based in the United States dollar.

30. Any waiver by the Landlord of any failure by the Tenant to perform or observe the provisions of this Lease will not operate as a waiver of the Landlord's rights under this Lease in respect of any subsequent defaults, breaches, or non-performance and will not defeat or affect in any way the Landlord's rights in respect of any subsequent default or breach.

31. This Lease will extend to and be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, as the case may be, of each Party. All covenants are to be construed as conditions of this Lease.

32. All sums payable by the Tenant to the Landlord pursuant to any provision of this Lease will be deemed to be additional rent and will be recovered by the Landlord as rental arrears.

33. Where there is more than one Tenant executing this Lease, all Tenants are jointly and severally liable for each other's acts, omissions, and liabilities pursuant to this Lease.

34. Locks may not be added or changed without the prior written agreement of both Parties, or unless the changes are made in compliance with the Act.

35. The Tenant will be charged an additional amount of $_________ for each N.S.F. check or checks returned by the Tenant's financial institution.

36. Headings are inserted for the convenience of the Parties only and are not to be considered when interpreting this Lease. Words in the singular mean and include the plural and vice versa. Words in the masculine mean and include the feminine and vice versa.

37. Time is of the essence in this Lease.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF _________, _________ have duly affixed their signatures on this________day of ________________, ________.

________________________________
Landlord: _________

_________________________________
Tenant: _________

The Tenant acknowledges receiving a duplicate copy of this Lease signed by the Tenant and the Landlord on the________day of ________________, ________.