Vermont Rental Fee Rules
Vermont rules on rental fees for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short 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
The rules in Vermont
| Application / screening fees | 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. ID/SSN provisions added by 2025, No. 69, § 10, eff. July 1, 2025. Source: 9 V.S.A. § 4456a |
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Related questions
- How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee?
- What rental fees are illegal (junk fees)?
Vermont vs. neighboring states
| State | Application / screening fees | Other rental fees |
|---|---|---|
| Vermont | 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 | Not verified yet |
| Massachusetts | Banned in effect. Before or at the start of a tenancy, a landlord or the landlord's agent may not require any payment except: first month's rent, last month's rent, a security deposit of no more than one month's rent, and the cost of buying and installing a lock and key. Application and screening fees are not on the list. G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(b) (as amended by St. 2025, c. 9, §§ 54-55, eff. Aug. 1, 2025) | Payments at move-in are limited to the four items in § 15B(1)(b). Since Aug. 1, 2025, that limit also covers payments to the landlord's agent, which ends renter-paid broker fees when the broker works for the landlord. After the tenancy starts, the landlord may not demand advance rent beyond the current month or a larger deposit. No late fee or interest may be charged until rent is 30 days overdue. Regulations may allow an optional 'fee in lieu of security deposit', capped at one month's rent in total. G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(b)-(d) |
| New Hampshire | No dollar cap. Before collecting any application or renewal fee, the landlord must disclose in writing the amount of the fee and whether a satisfactory criminal background and credit check is required. If the applicant is not offered the unit, the landlord must refund everything beyond the actual cost of the documented background check, credit check and/or reasonable administrative costs within 30 days. RSA 540-A:3, VIII | Limited. A landlord may not require rent or other lease payments to be made only by electronic funds transfer (including automatic recurring transfers); at least one non-electronic payment method must be allowed. Application-fee disclosure and refund rules also apply. No general statute caps move-in or convenience fees or requires all-in rent disclosure. RSA 540-A:3, VIII, X |
| New York | Application fees are banned. Apart from fees required by statute or regulation, a landlord may not charge any fee to process, review, or accept an application, or any other payment before or at the start of the tenancy, except a background/credit check fee. That fee is capped at the lesser of the actual cost or $20. It must be waived if the applicant provides a background or credit check from the past 30 days. The landlord may collect it only after giving the applicant a copy of the check and the receipt or invoice. Lease waivers are void. N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 238-a(1), (3) | No payment, fee, or charge may be demanded before or at the start of the tenancy other than the security deposit (max one month's rent under GOL § 7-108) and the capped background/credit check fee. Late fees: only after rent is 5 days late, capped at the lesser of $50 or 5% of monthly rent. Bounced-check fees: only if the lease provides for them, capped at the greater of the landlord's actual costs or the GOL § 5-328(3) amount. Lease waivers are void. N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 238-a(1)(a), (2), (2-a), (3) |
City rules that may add to state law
More Vermont rental law
- Vermont Security Deposit Law
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- Vermont Repairs & Tenant Remedies
- Vermont Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws
- Breaking a Lease in Vermont
- Squatters' Rights in Vermont
- Vermont Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel
- Vermont Mold, Pests, Heat & AC Rules
- Vermont Privacy, Guests & Animal Rules
- Vermont Landlord Selling the House
- Vermont Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation
- Vermont Subletting, Lease Endings & Tenant Death
- All Vermont landlord-tenant rules
- Free legal help in Vermont
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Vermont Rental Fee Rules FAQ
Is there a limit on rental application fees in Vermont?
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)
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.