Vermont landlord repair laws
What your landlord is required to fix, how long they have once you put it in writing, and what Vermontlaw lets you do if they don't.
The deadline
30 days after written notice
Under 9 V.S.A. § 4458(a), you must make repairs within a reasonable time after receiving this notice; under § 4459(a), if a minor defect is not repaired within 30 days of notice, I may repair it and deduct the cost from rent.
9 V.S.A. § 4457 · 9 V.S.A. §§ 4458, 4459
What your landlord must maintain
Under 9 V.S.A. § 4457, a landlord must deliver and maintain premises that are safe, clean and fit for human habitation and that comply with applicable building, housing and health regulations, and supply a reasonable amount of heat and adequate hot and cold water — a warranty that may not be waived.
Conditions the statute covers
- ✓No working heat
- ✓No running water
- ✓No hot water
- ✓Electrical system not working or unsafe
- ✓Plumbing not in working order
- ✓Sewage backup or unsanitary conditions
- ✓Air conditioning not working (where supplied)
- ✓Supplied appliances not working — stove, refrigerator
- ✓Unsafe floors, stairs, railings, ceiling, or roof
- ✓Roof, window, or plumbing leak causing damage
- ✓Mold growth
- ✓Rodent or insect infestation
- ✓Common areas unsafe or unsanitary
- ✓No garbage receptacles or removal
- ✓Broken exterior door, window, or lock
- ✓Building or housing code violation
What you can do about it
Once written notice has been given and the statutory period has passed, you may withhold the payment of rent for the period of the noncompliance, obtain injunctive relief, recover damages, costs and reasonable attorney's fees, and terminate the rental agreement on reasonable notice, under § 4458(a) — and repair a minor defect and deduct the cost under § 4459.
Repair-and-deduct limit: under § 4459(a) the deduction for a minor defect may not exceed one-half of one month's rent, and actual notice of the cost must be given when it is deducted. (Shown for a $1,500 monthly rent where the limit depends on rent.)
Retaliation is illegal
9 V.S.A. § 4465 prohibits retaliation against a tenant who has complained to the landlord of a violation, entitles the tenant to damages and reasonable attorney's fees, and creates a rebuttable presumption where a termination follows within 90 days of a governmental notice of noncompliance.
Put it in writing — the way the statute expects
We'll write your notice citing 9 V.S.A. § 4457, the deadline it gives your landlord, and what happens if they miss it. Free to generate and download. If you want it sent USPS Certified Mail with tracking, we do that too.
Write my Vermont repair noticeCommon questions
- How long does a landlord have to make repairs in Vermont?
- Under 9 V.S.A. § 4458(a), you must make repairs within a reasonable time after receiving this notice; under § 4459(a), if a minor defect is not repaired within 30 days of notice, I may repair it and deduct the cost from rent. That clock starts when your landlord receives written notice — which is why how you send it matters.
- Can I withhold rent or repair it myself in Vermont?
- Vermont allows repair-and-deduct within limits: under § 4459(a) the deduction for a minor defect may not exceed one-half of one month's rent, and actual notice of the cost must be given when it is deducted. You must give written notice first, and the statutory waiting period must pass before you act.
- Can my landlord retaliate if I ask for repairs in Vermont?
- 9 V.S.A. § 4465 prohibits retaliation against a tenant who has complained to the landlord of a violation, entitles the tenant to damages and reasonable attorney's fees, and creates a rebuttable presumption where a termination follows within 90 days of a governmental notice of noncompliance.
- Do I have to put a repair request in writing in Vermont?
- Yes — and it is the single most important step. Under 9 V.S.A. §§ 4458, 4459, the landlord's obligations and your remedies run from written notice. A text message or a phone call generally leaves you arguing about whether and when your landlord was told.
Moving out of this Vermont rental?
Vermont gives your landlord 14 days to return your security deposit under 9 V.S.A. § 4461. See the deposit rules →
Verified against Vermont's published statute text on August 11, 2026 — read the statute yourself. General information, not legal advice. We are not a law firm.