No, your Vermont landlord cannot raise your rent without notice.
Under Vermont state law, landlords must provide tenants with at least 60 days’ written notice before any rent increase takes effect for tenants on a month-to-month lease or at the end of a fixed-term lease.
This notice must be in writing—either mailed or hand-delivered—and must specify both the amount of the increase and the date it will begin. Email notices do not count as proper written notice under state law.
If you have a fixed-term lease (such as a one-year lease), the rent cannot be increased during the lease term unless the lease specifically allows for it, and even then, the landlord must still provide the required written notice.
The only exception is for tenants in subsidized housing, where rent may change based on household income or other program rules.
In Burlington, landlords must give at least 90 days’ notice before a rent increase can take effect.
Key points:
No notice, no increase: A rent increase is not valid unless proper written notice is given.
Notice period: 60 days statewide (90 days in Burlington).
Lease protections: During a fixed-term lease, rent cannot be increased unless the lease allows it and proper notice is given.
Form of notice: Must be in writing and properly delivered.
Landlords who attempt to raise rent without following these rules are acting illegally, and tenants are not obligated to pay the increased rent under such circumstances.
Sources:
- https://vtlawhelp.org/rent-increases
- https://www.steadily.com/blog/rent-increase-laws-regulations-vermont
- https://www.steadily.com/blog/how-much-can-a-landlord-raise-rent-in-vermont
- https://www.hemlane.com/resources/vermont-rent-control-laws/