Vermont security deposit law
Security Deposit Laws in Vermont
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When did you move out?
This is the one that matters. Your clock starts the day you handed back the keys — not the day your landlord replies.
Statute-verified in 50 U.S. jurisdictions and counting — everywhere else, a specialist prepares your case by hand until verification clears.
Vermont security deposit return timeline
Deadline to return
14 days
Statute
9 V.S.A. § 4461(c)-(e)
The landlord must return the deposit ALONG WITH a written statement itemizing any deductions within 14 days from the date the landlord discovers the tenant vacated or abandoned the unit, or the date the tenant vacated if the landlord received notice from the tenant of that date. EXCEPTION: for SEASONAL occupancy and rental of a dwelling unit NOT intended as a primary residence, the deposit and written statement are due within 60 DAYS. The landlord complies by hand-delivering or mailing the statement and payment to the tenant's last known address. A town or municipality may adopt a supplemental security-deposit ordinance (which may add interest and local housing-board review), so check for a local ordinance in places such as Burlington.
What can a landlord legally deduct in Vermont?
Allowed
- ✓Nonpayment of rent
- ✓Damage to property of the landlord
- ✓Nonpayment of utility or other charges the tenant was required to pay directly to the landlord or to a utility
- ✓Expenses required to remove articles abandoned by the tenant in the rental unit
Not allowed
- ✗Damage that is the result of normal wear and tear
- ✗Damage resulting from actions or events beyond the control of the tenant
What if your landlord keeps your deposit wrongfully in Vermont?
FORFEITURE PLUS DOUBLE DAMAGES. If the landlord fails to return the deposit with a statement within 14 days, the landlord FORFEITS the right to withhold ANY portion. If the failure is WILLFUL, the landlord is liable for DOUBLE (2x) the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney's fees and costs. 9 V.S.A. § 4461(e).
How TenantNex helps
- 1. Tell us your move-out date, deposit amount, and landlord's address — two minutes.
- 2. We generate a demand letter citing 9 V.S.A. § 4461(c)-(e) and your exact deadline.
- 3. We mail it to your landlord via USPS Certified Mail with return receipt.
- 4. You track delivery on your case page, with day-7 and day-14 follow-up.
$39 per case — founding price, one flat fee, no subscription.
Vermont tenant rights resources
- HUD — tenant rights and resources
- Find your state's consumer protection / Attorney General office
- Key statute: 9 V.S.A. § 4461(c)-(e) — verified against the official text on 2026-09-04.
Every fact on this page is verified against Vermont's official statutory text as of 2026-09-04. TenantNex is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. For complex disputes, consult a licensed attorney in Vermont.
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14 days
Vermont law sets this deadline — your landlord must return your deposit or itemize deductions by then.
If they wrongfully withhold
up to 2× your deposit
Add your deposit amount above for the exact figure.
9 V.S.A. § 4461(c)-(e) — verified against the official statute 2026-09-04
Your 14 days started the day you moved out — that clock is running right now whether or not your landlord acts, and the 2× penalty only exists if you demanded it in writing before it closed.
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Used by renters in 4 states — 18 people in the past two weeks found out exactly what they're owed this way.
We don't stop at mailing it. If your landlord doesn't respond, we follow up at day 7 and day 14 — and help you build the evidence and paperwork for small claims if it comes to that. Real result: we helped Kathleen A. (Ohio) recover her full $3,000 deposit this way.
Pay once. We handle the rest.
One case, one price — the letter, the certified mailing, the tracking, and the follow-up. No subscription, no recurring anything.
| Option | Price | Effort | Follow-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | — | All of it | You chase |
| TenantNex | $39 | Done for you | We chase |
| Small-claims services | $149–448 | — | — |
| Hire an attorney | $300–2,000+ | — | — |
An attorney starts at $300. Filing services charge $149 for the letter alone. We prepare the whole claim for $39.
Recover
We run your claim until you are paid — or you are ready to file.
- Step 1 — certified demand letter citing your state statute, deadline and penalty
- Mailed USPS Certified with return receipt, tracked to your landlord’s door
- Step 2 — day-14 notice of intent to file, the one most landlords act on
- Step 3 — your small-claims packet: the right form for your county, filled in
- Where to file, what it costs, and how to serve your landlord
- Evidence checklist, with your certified receipt as Exhibit A
- Counter-response letter if your landlord disputes or underpays
- Attorney referral if it is still unresolved after 21 days
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What TenantNex is — and isn't
TenantNex is not a law firm. We prepare and send correspondence using publicly available state statutes. We do not provide legal advice, legal representation, or guarantee any outcome. For complex legal matters, consult a licensed attorney in your state.