Eviction notice rules in Vermont
Nonpayment notice
14-day actual notice stating the termination date (9 V.S.A. §4467(a)). The agreement does not terminate if the tenant pays or tenders rent due through the end of the rental period. Partial payment does not waive the landlord's remedies. NOTE: a nonpayment ejectment complaint must also satisfy the CARES Act 30-day notice declaration (Vt. R. Civ. P. 9.2) for covered properties.
Lease-violation notice
30 days' written notice for a material lease-term violation (9 V.S.A. §4467(b)(1)); 14 days' notice for criminal activity, illegal drug activity, or violence threatening the health or safety of other residents (§4467(b)(2)).
Unconditional quit (no second chance)
14-day notice for criminal activity, illegal drug activity, or violent acts threatening residents' health or safety — no cure right stated in the statute (unverified detail — needs attorney review).
No-cause / end-of-tenancy notice
Without a written agreement: 60 days (resident ≤2 years) or 90 days (>2 years) (9 V.S.A. §4467(c)(1)). With a written agreement: 30 days (≤2 years) or 60 days (>2 years). Month-to-month: 30 days (§4467(e)). Week-to-week: 21 days (§4467(c)(2)). Termination due to sale of the property: 30 days (§4467(d)).
How the notice must be served
'Actual notice' = receipt of written notice hand-delivered or mailed to the tenant's last known address; a rebuttable presumption of receipt 3 days after mailing applies if sent by first-class or certified U.S. mail (9 V.S.A. §4451(1)). Every notice must specifically state the termination date. Defective notice voids the case.
Your right to fix it (cure)
Nonpayment: pay or tender rent due through the end of the rental period to void the notice — but a tenant may not defeat an ejectment this way more than once in 12 months. Lease-violation cure rights within the 30-day window are <em>reported — confirm with a licensed attorney</em>.
How days are counted
The termination date must be 'at least 14 days after the date of the actual notice.' One secondary source states the notice goes void if the ejectment action is not filed within 60 days of the termination date — <em>reported — confirm with a licensed attorney</em>.
After the notice expires
Landlord brings an ejectment action for possession, damages, and costs (9 V.S.A. §4468; 12 V.S.A. ch. 169, subch. 3). Tenant does NOT have to leave when notice expires; the landlord may not deny access or change locks without a court order. Acceptance of rent after termination (for non-nonpayment grounds) does not waive the action (§4467(j)(1)).
Court timeline
Ejectment in civil court; hearing typically weeks after filing; full process to possession roughly 2 months in uncontested cases.
Retaliation & defenses
Retaliation prohibited (9 V.S.A. §4465 — citation unverified, needs attorney review). Discrimination barred by fair housing law.
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