Question 1

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Vermont?

Accepted Answer

No statutory cap. (9 V.S.A. 4461)

Question 2

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Vermont?

Accepted Answer

Within 14 days from the date the landlord learns the tenant vacated (or from the move-out date if the tenant gave notice of it); 60 days for seasonal rentals not intended as a primary residence.
9 V.S.A. 4461(c)

Question 3

Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Vermont?

Accepted Answer

Not required by state law; a municipality may require interest by ordinance. (9 V.S.A. 4461(g))

Question 4

Does a landlord in Vermont have to give an itemized list of deposit deductions?

Accepted Answer

Required: written itemized statement of the reasons for any amount withheld, sent with any balance within 14 days. (9 V.S.A. 4461(c))

Question 5

What happens if a landlord in Vermont wrongfully keeps a security deposit?

Accepted Answer

A landlord who fails to return the deposit and statement within 14 days forfeits the right to withhold any portion; if the failure is willful, the landlord is liable for double the amount wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees and costs. (9 V.S.A. 4461(e))

Question 6

How much notice does a landlord have to give before evicting for unpaid rent in Vermont?

Accepted Answer

Written notice of termination at least 14 days after actual notice. The tenancy does not terminate if the tenant pays or tenders all rent due through the end of the rental period in which payment is made.
9 V.S.A. 4467(a)

Question 7

How much notice is required to evict for a lease violation in Vermont?

Accepted Answer

Breach of the rental agreement or tenant obligations: at least 30 days' notice. Criminal activity, illegal drug activity, or acts of violence threatening other residents' health or safety: at least 14 days' notice. (9 V.S.A. 4467(b))

Question 8

How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month lease in Vermont?

Accepted Answer

Landlord no-cause, no written lease, monthly rent: at least 60 days if the tenant has lived there two years or less, 90 days if more than two years (weekly rent: 21 days). Written lease ending: 30 days before end of term (tenancy of two years or less) or 60 days (more than two years). Building under contract for sale (no written lease): 30 days. Shared occupancy in owner's residence: 15 days (monthly) or 7 days (weekly). Tenant: unless a written rental agreement or other law says otherwise, a tenant may end the tenancy by actual notice to the landlord at least one rental payment period before the termination date in the notice (for monthly rent, one full month). (9 V.S.A. 4467(c)-(e), (h); 4456(d))

Question 9

Can a landlord enter without notice in Vermont?

Accepted Answer

With tenant consent (not to be unreasonably withheld), or between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on at least 48 hours' notice for inspections, repairs, services, or showings. No notice needed if the landlord reasonably believes there is imminent danger to a person or property. (9 V.S.A. 4460)

Question 10

Is there a limit on late fees in Vermont?

Accepted Answer

No statutory cap or grace period. (9 V.S.A. ch. 137)

Question 11

Can a tenant repair and deduct from rent in Vermont?

Accepted Answer

Yes, for minor defects: if the landlord fails to repair within 30 days of notice, the tenant may repair and deduct the actual and reasonable cost, not to exceed one-half of one month's rent, giving the landlord actual notice of the cost. (9 V.S.A. 4459)

Question 12

Can a tenant withhold rent for repairs in Vermont?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If the landlord fails to make repairs within a reasonable time after actual notice (from the tenant, a government entity, or a qualified independent inspector) of a habitability noncompliance that materially affects health and safety, the tenant may withhold rent for the period of noncompliance, or seek injunctive relief, damages, costs and attorney's fees, or terminate on reasonable notice. (9 V.S.A. 4458)

Question 13

Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant for complaining in Vermont?

Accepted Answer

Landlord may not retaliate (by setting or changing lease terms, or by bringing or threatening an action) because a tenant complained to a government agency about a health/safety violation, complained to the landlord about a chapter 137 violation, or organized/joined a tenants' union. A termination notice (other than for nonpayment) served within 90 days after a state or municipal finding of a health or safety noncompliance is presumed retaliatory (rebuttable). (9 V.S.A. 4465)

Question 14

Is there rent control or a limit on rent increases in Vermont?

Accepted Answer

No statewide rent control or rent-increase cap. Landlord must give at least 60 days' actual notice of a rent increase, effective the first day of the next rental period. (9 V.S.A. 4455(b))

Question 15

Can a landlord change the locks or shut off utilities in Vermont?

Accepted Answer

Landlord may not willfully interrupt or terminate a tenant's utility service (except for temporary emergency repairs), or deny access to the premises or the tenant's property, except by proper judicial process. Tenant may sue for injunctive relief, damages, costs and reasonable attorney's fees. (9 V.S.A. 4463; 4464)

Question 16

What is the small claims court limit in Vermont for a deposit dispute?

Accepted Answer

$10,000. (12 V.S.A. 5531(a))

Question 17

How do you remove a squatter in Vermont?

Accepted Answer

No police-removal or affidavit procedure. The owner must use the court ejectment process. A landlord, landlord's agent, or tenant may file (with or after the complaint) a motion for immediate possession against an occupant who has no right or permission to be in the unit where the written lease bars subleasing, supported by an affidavit of specific facts and a copy of the lease. The court holds a hearing after 10 days' notice; if the occupant has no right or permission, it must enter judgment for immediate possession, and the sheriff may restore possession no sooner than 5 days after serving the writ. (12 V.S.A. § 4853b)

Question 18

What can a landlord do with a tenant's abandoned property in Vermont?

Accepted Answer

A unit is abandoned if a reasonable person would believe it is no longer occupied full-time, rent is not current, and the landlord has made reasonable efforts to learn the tenant's intentions. For unclaimed property (other than trash) after abandonment, the landlord must store it in a safe, dry, secured place and mail written notice to the tenant's last known address that it will be disposed of after 60 days unless claimed. The tenant claims it by giving a reasonable written description and paying reasonable storage and related costs within 60 days; otherwise it becomes the landlord's property. Property left after the tenant gave actual notice of vacating, or moved out at the end of the rental agreement, may be disposed of without notice or liability. (9 V.S.A. § 4462)

Question 19

Is there a limit on rental application fees in Vermont?

Accepted Answer

Banned. A landlord or agent may not charge any application fee to apply for a residential rental. For background or credit checks the landlord must accept any unexpired government ID, an ITIN, or a Social Security number, and may not require an SSN or reject an application for lacking one. (9 V.S.A. § 4456a)

Question 20

Can a domestic violence survivor break a lease in Vermont?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A protected tenant may terminate without penalty if they reasonably believe they must leave because of fear of imminent harm to a protected tenant from abuse, sexual assault or stalking, or because a protected tenant was sexually assaulted on the premises in the prior 6 months. At least 30 days before the termination date the tenant must give the landlord written notice plus documentation from a court, law enforcement or government agency, an abuse/sexual assault/stalking assistance program, a professional who provided help, or a self-certification signed under penalty of perjury on a standard form adopted by HUD, the Vermont Department for Children and Families, or a victim-services nonprofit. The notice may be revoked if the landlord has not re-rented. (9 V.S.A. § 4472)

Question 21

Can a landlord refuse Section 8 vouchers in Vermont?

Accepted Answer

Yes. It is unlawful to refuse to rent, set discriminatory terms, harass, or advertise a preference because a person receives public assistance, defined to include any federal, state, or local government assistance, including housing assistance. (9 V.S.A. § 4503(a); § 4501(6))

Question 22

What does a Vermont notice to pay rent or quit have to include?

Accepted Answer

Written 'actual notice' stating the termination date, at least 14 days after the notice. Actual notice means receipt of written notice hand-delivered or mailed to the last known address; mailing by first-class or certified mail creates a rebuttable presumption of receipt 3 days later. The tenancy does not end if the tenant pays or tenders rent due through the end of the rental period in which payment is made. Partial payment does not waive the landlord's remedies. The ejectment case must be filed within 60 days after the termination date in the notice. (9 V.S.A. § 4467(a), (f), (k); § 4451)

Question 23

What does a Vermont notice to end a month-to-month tenancy have to include?

Accepted Answer

No-cause termination requires written actual notice that states the termination date specifically. Without a written lease, monthly rent: at least 60 days (tenancy of 2 years or less) or 90 days (more than 2 years); weekly rent: 21 days. With a written lease, notice must be at least 30 days (2 years or less) or 60 days (more than 2 years) before the end of the term; 7 days for week-to-week. Shared occupancy in the owner's home: 15 days (monthly) or 7 days (weekly). Sale of the building (no written lease): 30 days. Delivered by hand or mail to the last known address. (9 V.S.A. § 4467(c)-(f), (h); § 4451)

Question 24

What must a Vermont security deposit itemization include?

Accepted Answer

Within 14 days after the tenant vacates (if the tenant gave notice of the date) or after the landlord discovers the tenant vacated or abandoned, the landlord must return the deposit with a written statement itemizing any deductions, hand-delivered or mailed to the tenant's last known address. Missing the deadline forfeits the right to withhold any portion; willful failure means double the amount wrongfully withheld plus attorney's fees and costs. (9 V.S.A. § 4461(c)-(e))

Question 25

How long does a landlord have to sue for unpaid rent in Vermont?

Accepted Answer

6 years. Vermont's general civil-action limitations period (six years after the cause of action accrues) applies to suits for unpaid rent or damages under both written and oral leases. (12 V.S.A. § 511)

Question 26

Can a landlord accept rent during an eviction in Vermont?

Accepted Answer

By statute, no waiver in most cases. Nonpayment: the tenancy does not terminate if the tenant pays or tenders all rent due through the end of the rental period in which payment is made, but accepting a PARTIAL payment does not waive the landlord's nonpayment remedies or create an accord and satisfaction. Other grounds: accepting full or partial rent after termination for reasons other than nonpayment, or at any time during the ejectment case, does not dismiss the case or waive eviction for breach of the lease, breach of tenant obligations, or no-cause termination. In court, the case is discontinued if the tenant pays into court all rent due through the current rental period plus interest and costs before the writ of possession is executed, but only once in 12 months. (9 V.S.A. § 4467(a), (j); 12 V.S.A. § 4773)

Question 27

Can you be evicted in the winter in Vermont?

Accepted Answer

No statute — 9 V.S.A. ch. 137 and the ejectment chapter (12 V.S.A. ch. 169) contain no winter or cold-weather limit on evictions or landlord utility shutoffs. (9 V.S.A. ch. 137; 12 V.S.A. ch. 169 (checked))

Question 28

Can a landlord give notice by text or email in Vermont?

Accepted Answer

Termination and rent-increase notices must be 'actual notice': receipt of written notice hand-delivered or mailed to the last known address. If the sender proves the notice was sent by first-class or certified U.S. mail, receipt is presumed (rebuttably) three days after mailing. The statute does not authorize e-mail or text notice. (9 V.S.A. § 4451(1))

Question 29

How much notice is required for a rent increase in Vermont?

Accepted Answer

A rent increase takes effect only on the first day of the rental period following at least 60 days' actual (written) notice to the tenant; this applies to all residential tenancies. Age-restricted (55+/senior) private housing not licensed as care facilities: the owner must also give written notice on a DHCD form to the Department and all affected residents at least 60 days before the increase, stating the amount, effective date, percentage and residents' rights; otherwise the increase is unenforceable (subsidized housing excepted). (9 V.S.A. § 4455(b); 9 V.S.A. § 4468a)

Question 30

Does a landlord have to give a copy of the lease in Vermont?

Accepted Answer

No statute — Vermont's Residential Rental Agreements chapter does not require the landlord to give the tenant a copy of the signed lease or an owner/agent identity disclosure at move-in. (Related: application fees are banned and a landlord may not require a Social Security number.) (9 V.S.A. ch. 137 (checked); § 4456a)

Question 31

What are tenants' rights in a foreclosure in Vermont?

Accepted Answer

In a mortgage foreclosure of residential rental property, the foreclosing party must join as defendants the tenants occupying under a rental agreement when the complaint is recorded (service by first-class mail is sufficient), and the summons must carry a 14-point warning that the home is being foreclosed. On receiving the complaint, the owner must tell each NEW tenant that a foreclosure is pending and they may have to leave on 30 days' notice (or longer federal notice). After judgment, the writ of possession must be served on a residential tenant and the plaintiff cannot be put in possession until at least 30 days after service (or longer if federal law requires). On an ordinary sale with no written lease, a landlord who has contracted to sell may end the tenancy on 30 days' actual notice. (12 V.S.A. § 4932(c); 12 V.S.A. § 4941; 9 V.S.A. § 4467(d))

Question 32

Does a landlord have to fix mold in Vermont?

Accepted Answer

No mold-specific statute, but the state Rental Housing Health Code requires every rental unit to be kept free from the regular or periodic appearance of standing water or excessive moisture that may result in visible mold growth, and bars use of humidifiers in ways that raise relative humidity above 60%. The landlord's statutory warranty of habitability requires premises that are safe, clean, fit for habitation and compliant with building, housing and health regulations; the warranty cannot be waived. (9 V.S.A. § 4457(a)-(b); Vermont Rental Housing Health Code §§ 8.2, 10.3)

Question 33

Who pays for pest control and bed bugs in Vermont?

Accepted Answer

Yes, by health code. The owner must keep common spaces free from infestation (pests or bed bugs) and exterminate there, and must exterminate inside a unit when the infestation is caused by the owner's failure to maintain the building or exists in two or more units. Rooming-house owners are responsible for all rooms. The tenant must keep the unit free from infestation and pay for extermination when the infestation is caused by the tenant's failure to maintain the unit (except where the owner is responsible as above). Extermination must remove harborage and food sources and use treatments such as spraying, fumigating, heat treating or trapping. (Vermont Rental Housing Health Code §§ 4.7, 4.15, 6.1-6.3)

Question 34

Does a landlord have to provide heat in Vermont?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The landlord must ensure heating facilities capable of safely providing a reasonable amount of heat, and a landlord who provides heat under the lease must supply a reasonable amount at all times (summer rentals and hunting camps excepted). The Rental Housing Health Code requires heating facilities whenever the outside temperature is below 55 degrees F, able to maintain at least 65 degrees F in all habitable rooms, kitchens and bathrooms (measured 3 feet above the floor and 3 feet from an exterior wall) without overheating one room to heat another; unvented fuel-fired space heaters are prohibited. (9 V.S.A. § 4457(c); Vermont Rental Housing Health Code §§ 7.1-7.5)

Question 35

Does a landlord have to provide air conditioning in Vermont?

Accepted Answer

No statute — Vermont law and the Rental Housing Health Code do not require air conditioning or set a maximum indoor temperature. The code requires ventilation to the outdoors and screens on operable windows. (9 V.S.A. ch. 137 (checked); Vermont Rental Housing Health Code § 8.1)

Question 36

What can a landlord deduct from a deposit for cleaning or damage in Vermont?

Accepted Answer

Not defined by statute. A landlord may keep all or part of the deposit only for nonpayment of rent; damage to the landlord's property unless it results from normal wear and tear or from actions or events beyond the tenant's control; unpaid utility or other charges the tenant was required to pay; and the cost of removing abandoned articles. The statute does not list cleaning or painting as a permitted deduction. The deposit must be returned with an itemized statement within 14 days after the landlord learns the tenant vacated. (9 V.S.A. § 4461(b)-(c))

Question 37

Can a landlord put cameras in or around a rental in Vermont?

Accepted Answer

No landlord camera statute, but Vermont's voyeurism law expressly prohibits intentionally conducting surveillance of, or photographing, filming or recording, a person without the person's knowledge and consent while the person is in a place where the person would have a reasonable expectation of privacy within a home or residence. It also bars viewing or recording a person's intimate areas or sexual conduct without consent where privacy is expected. Landlord entry requires consent or at least 48 hours' notice, between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., for listed purposes, except in an emergency. (13 V.S.A. § 2605(b)-(d); 9 V.S.A. § 4460)

Question 38

Can a landlord limit guests or roommates in Vermont?

Accepted Answer

No statute — no statewide occupancy limit or guest rule; the lease governs. Vermont law allows a landlord to condition or prohibit subleasing in a written lease and to require written notice of any sublessee's name and contact information (without a written lease, the tenant must give that notice). The tenant must ensure persons on the premises with the tenant's consent do not disturb other tenants or damage the premises. (9 V.S.A. § 4456(b)-(c); § 4456b)

Question 39

Can a landlord deny a service or emotional support animal in Vermont?

Accepted Answer

Vermont fair housing law makes it unlawful to discriminate in renting a dwelling because a person relies on aids such as specially trained animals, or to refuse reasonable accommodations in rules, policies or services needed for a person with a disability to use and enjoy a dwelling. No state statute sets emotional-support-animal documentation rules, pet-fee limits or a housing misrepresentation penalty; federal Fair Housing Act standards govern those questions. (9 V.S.A. § 4503(a)(9)-(10))

Security deposit limit	No statutory cap. Section 4461 regulates return of deposits but sets no maximum amount. Source: 9 V.S.A. 4461
Deposit return deadline	Within 14 days from the date the landlord learns the tenant vacated (or from the move-out date if the tenant gave notice of it); 60 days for seasonal rentals not intended as a primary residence. Statement and refund must be hand-delivered or mailed to the tenant's last known address. Source: 9 V.S.A. 4461(c)
Itemized deductions	Required: written itemized statement of the reasons for any amount withheld, sent with any balance within 14 days. Source: 9 V.S.A. 4461(c)
Interest on deposits	Not required by state law; a municipality may require interest by ordinance. Source: 9 V.S.A. 4461(g)
Penalty for withholding	A landlord who fails to return the deposit and statement within 14 days forfeits the right to withhold any portion; if the failure is willful, the landlord is liable for double the amount wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees and costs. Source: 9 V.S.A. 4461(e)

Notice for unpaid rent	Written notice of termination at least 14 days after actual notice. The tenancy does not terminate if the tenant pays or tenders all rent due through the end of the rental period in which payment is made. 2026 bill H.772 (to streamline nonpayment/breach evictions) failed in the Senate on May 27, 2026 and did not become law (https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.0772). Source: 9 V.S.A. 4467(a)
Notice for lease violations	Breach of the rental agreement or tenant obligations: at least 30 days' notice. Criminal activity, illegal drug activity, or acts of violence threatening other residents' health or safety: at least 14 days' notice. No statutory right to cure. Source: 9 V.S.A. 4467(b)
Lockouts & utility shutoffs	Landlord may not willfully interrupt or terminate a tenant's utility service (except for temporary emergency repairs), or deny access to the premises or the tenant's property, except by proper judicial process. Tenant may sue for injunctive relief, damages, costs and reasonable attorney's fees. Remedies section: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/09/137/04464. No statutory fixed damages amount. Source: 9 V.S.A. 4463; 4464

Repair and deduct	Yes, for minor defects: if the landlord fails to repair within 30 days of notice, the tenant may repair and deduct the actual and reasonable cost, not to exceed one-half of one month's rent, giving the landlord actual notice of the cost. Not available if the tenant or someone on the premises with consent caused the defect. Source: 9 V.S.A. 4459
Withholding rent	Yes. If the landlord fails to make repairs within a reasonable time after actual notice (from the tenant, a government entity, or a qualified independent inspector) of a habitability noncompliance that materially affects health and safety, the tenant may withhold rent for the period of noncompliance, or seek injunctive relief, damages, costs and attorney's fees, or terminate on reasonable notice. Not available if the tenant or someone with the tenant's consent caused the noncompliance. Source: 9 V.S.A. 4458
Retaliation protection	Landlord may not retaliate (by setting or changing lease terms, or by bringing or threatening an action) because a tenant complained to a government agency about a health/safety violation, complained to the landlord about a chapter 137 violation, or organized/joined a tenants' union. A termination notice (other than for nonpayment) served within 90 days after a state or municipal finding of a health or safety noncompliance is presumed retaliatory (rebuttable). Remedy: damages and reasonable attorney's fees; retaliation is a defense to possession. Source: 9 V.S.A. 4465

Mold	No mold-specific statute, but the state Rental Housing Health Code requires every rental unit to be kept free from the regular or periodic appearance of standing water or excessive moisture that may result in visible mold growth, and bars use of humidifiers in ways that raise relative humidity above 60%. The landlord's statutory warranty of habitability requires premises that are safe, clean, fit for habitation and compliant with building, housing and health regulations; the warranty cannot be waived. Statute text: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/fullchapter/09/137. Tenant remedies for habitability violations (including withholding rent after notice and a reasonable time to repair) are in 9 V.S.A. § 4458. Source: 9 V.S.A. § 4457(a)-(b); Vermont Rental Housing Health Code §§ 8.2, 10.3
Pests & bed bugs	Yes, by health code. The owner must keep common spaces free from infestation (pests or bed bugs) and exterminate there, and must exterminate inside a unit when the infestation is caused by the owner's failure to maintain the building or exists in two or more units. Rooming-house owners are responsible for all rooms. The tenant must keep the unit free from infestation and pay for extermination when the infestation is caused by the tenant's failure to maintain the unit (except where the owner is responsible as above). Extermination must remove harborage and food sources and use treatments such as spraying, fumigating, heat treating or trapping. No bed-bug disclosure statute. Source: Vermont Rental Housing Health Code §§ 4.7, 4.15, 6.1-6.3
Heat	Yes. The landlord must ensure heating facilities capable of safely providing a reasonable amount of heat, and a landlord who provides heat under the lease must supply a reasonable amount at all times (summer rentals and hunting camps excepted). The Rental Housing Health Code requires heating facilities whenever the outside temperature is below 55 degrees F, able to maintain at least 65 degrees F in all habitable rooms, kitchens and bathrooms (measured 3 feet above the floor and 3 feet from an exterior wall) without overheating one room to heat another; unvented fuel-fired space heaters are prohibited. Health code text: https://healthvermont.gov/file/18871. Source: 9 V.S.A. § 4457(c); Vermont Rental Housing Health Code §§ 7.1-7.5
Air conditioning	No statute — Vermont law and the Rental Housing Health Code do not require air conditioning or set a maximum indoor temperature. The code requires ventilation to the outdoors and screens on operable windows. Source: 9 V.S.A. ch. 137 (checked); Vermont Rental Housing Health Code § 8.1

Cameras & privacy	No landlord camera statute, but Vermont's voyeurism law expressly prohibits intentionally conducting surveillance of, or photographing, filming or recording, a person without the person's knowledge and consent while the person is in a place where the person would have a reasonable expectation of privacy within a home or residence. It also bars viewing or recording a person's intimate areas or sexual conduct without consent where privacy is expected. Landlord entry requires consent or at least 48 hours' notice, between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., for listed purposes, except in an emergency. Audio-recording (eavesdropping) rules were not covered here. Source: 13 V.S.A. § 2605(b)-(d); 9 V.S.A. § 4460
Guests & occupants	No statute — no statewide occupancy limit or guest rule; the lease governs. Vermont law allows a landlord to condition or prohibit subleasing in a written lease and to require written notice of any sublessee's name and contact information (without a written lease, the tenant must give that notice). The tenant must ensure persons on the premises with the tenant's consent do not disturb other tenants or damage the premises. The Rental Housing Health Code treats guests entitled to live and sleep in a unit as 'occupants' for code purposes (§ 4.12). Source: 9 V.S.A. § 4456(b)-(c); § 4456b
Service & support animals (state law)	Vermont fair housing law makes it unlawful to discriminate in renting a dwelling because a person relies on aids such as specially trained animals, or to refuse reasonable accommodations in rules, policies or services needed for a person with a disability to use and enjoy a dwelling. No state statute sets emotional-support-animal documentation rules, pet-fee limits or a housing misrepresentation penalty; federal Fair Housing Act standards govern those questions. Source: 9 V.S.A. § 4503(a)(9)-(10)

Vermont Landlord-Tenant Law

Quick answers for Vermont

Security Deposits in Vermont

Eviction in Vermont

Notice to Vacate in Vermont

Landlord Entry in Vermont

Repairs & Habitability in Vermont

Rent Increases & Late Fees in Vermont

Breaking a Lease in Vermont

Squatters & Abandoned Property in Vermont

Rental Fees in Vermont

Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel in Vermont

Mold, Pests, Heat & AC in Vermont

Privacy, Guests & Animals in Vermont

How eviction works in Vermont

What surprises people about Vermont rental law

Federal law that also applies in Vermont

City rules in Vermont

For landlords

Common Vermont questions

Free calculators

How Vermont compares to neighboring states

Vermont landlord-tenant FAQ

Official resources for Vermont

State	Security deposit limit	Deposit return deadline	Notice for unpaid rent
Vermont	No statutory cap. 9 V.S.A. 4461	Within 14 days from the date the landlord learns the tenant vacated (or from the move-out date if the tenant gave notice of it); 60 days for seasonal rentals not intended as a primary residence. 9 V.S.A. 4461(c)	Written notice of termination at least 14 days after actual notice. The tenancy does not terminate if the tenant pays or tenders all rent due through the end of the rental period in which payment is made. 9 V.S.A. 4467(a)
Massachusetts	Security deposit may not exceed one month's rent. At or before the start of a tenancy a landlord (or the landlord's agent) may require only: first full month's rent, last full month's rent (at the same rate as the first), a security deposit of up to one month's rent, and the purchase and installation cost of a new lock and key. No other upfront charges (e.g., application, pet, or landlord-side broker fees) are allowed. G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(b)	30 days after the tenancy ends (end of a tenancy at will or end of the lease term). The landlord must return the deposit, or whatever balance remains, with any accrued interest. G.L. c. 186, § 15B(4)	14 days' written notice to quit. For tenants at will: a tenant who has not received a similar notice in the previous 12 months can cure by paying the full rent due within 10 days after receiving the notice, and the notice must state this right. For tenants with a lease: the tenant can cure by paying all rent due, plus interest and costs, on or before the day the answer is due in the eviction case. G.L. c. 186, §§ 11, 12, 31
New Hampshire	One month's rent or $100, whichever is greater. RSA 540-A:6, I(a)	Within 30 days after the tenancy ends. RSA 540-A:7, I	7-day written eviction notice (plus a demand for rent), stating the reason with specificity and telling the tenant of the right to avoid eviction by paying arrears. RSA 540:3, II-IV; RSA 540:2, II(a); RSA 540:5
New York	One month's rent N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108(1-a)(a)	14 days after the tenant vacates N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108(1-a)(e)	14-day written rent demand before filing a nonpayment proceeding. Separately, if rent is not received within 5 days of the due date, the landlord must send the tenant a certified-mail notice that rent was not received; failure is an affirmative defense to a nonpayment case. N.Y. RPAPL § 711(2); N.Y. RPL § 235-e(d)