Vermont H 756: An act relating to short-term rental occupancy requirements

Bill Text

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H.756 1
Introduced by Representatives Dobrovich of Williamstown, Burtt of Cabot, 2
Coffin of Cavendish, Galfetti of Barre Town, Goslant of 3
Northfield, Morgan, M. of Milton, and Nielsen of Brandon 4
Referred to Committee on 5
Date: 6
Subject: Commerce and trade; residential rental agreements; landlord tenant; 7
court procedure; ejectment; crimes and criminal procedure; human 8
trafficking; Executive; Department of Housing and Community 9
Development 10
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require a 11
landlord to notify relevant housing authorities within 48 hours after providing a 12
notice of termination to a tenant receiving housing assistance and to notify law 13
enforcement of suspected human trafficking as soon as practicable after the 14
occurrence of the suspected human trafficking; reduce the notice period for 15
termination of a rental agreement when termination is based on criminal 16
activity, illegal drug activity, human trafficking, or acts of violence to seven 17
days; require a defendant to answer an ejectment complaint within five 18
business days; authorize expedited hearings for an ejectment action based on 19
suspected criminal activity; increase the maximum penalties for human 20
trafficking violations and for knowingly permitting the sale of regulated drugs 21

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in a dwelling or within 500 feet of a dwelling to 10 years in prison or a 1
$500,000.00 fine, or both; and create the landlord assistance program within 2
the Department of Housing and Community Development to provide resources 3
and financial reimbursement to landlords. 4
An act relating to termination of residential rental agreements based on 5
criminal activity and increased penalties for crimes within a dwelling 6
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 7
Sec. 1. PURPOSE 8
The purpose of this act is to empower landlords to address drug and human 9
trafficking in rental properties, ensure safe housing environments, enhance 10
penalties for human trafficking, and prioritize community safety and recovery. 11
Sec. 2. 9 V.S.A. § 4457 is amended to read: 12
§ 4457. LANDLORD OBLIGATIONS; HABITABILITY 13
* * * 14
(d) Termination of tenancy. A landlord shall notify any relevant housing 15
authority with 48 hours after providing notice of termination of a residential 16
rental agreement under section 4467 of this title for a tenant receiving housing 17
assistance. 18
(e) Criminal activity. A landlord shall notify law enforcement of suspected 19
human trafficking, as that term is defined in 13 V.S.A. § 2651, as soon as 20

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practicable after the occurrence of the suspected human trafficking within a 1
dwelling unit owned or managed by the landlord. 2
Sec. 3. 9 V.S.A. § 4467 is amended to read: 3
§ 4467. TERMINATION OF TENANCY; NOTICE 4
* * * 5
(b) Termination for breach of rental agreement. 6
(1) The landlord may terminate a tenancy for failure of the a tenant, 7
household member, or guest to comply with a material term of the rental 8
agreement or with obligations imposed under this chapter by actual notice 9
given to the tenant at least 30 days prior to the termination date specified in the 10
notice. 11
(2) When termination is based on criminal activity, illegal drug activity, 12
human trafficking, or acts of violence, any of which threaten the health or 13
safety of other residents, the landlord may terminate the tenancy by providing 14
actual notice to the tenant of the date on which the tenancy will terminate, 15
which shall be at least 14 seven days from the date of the actual notice. 16
* * * 17
Sec. 4. 12 V.S.A. § 4852 is amended to read: 18
§ 4852. MODE OF PROCESS; DECLARATION; TRIAL BY JURY 19
(a) The process may issue as a summons or writ of attachment, requiring 20
the defendant to appear and answer to the complaint of the plaintiff, which 21

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shall state that the defendant is in the possession of the lands or tenements in 1
question (describing them), which the tenant holds unlawfully and against the 2
right of the plaintiff. A copy of the rental agreement, if any, and any notice to 3
terminate the defendant’s tenancy shall be attached to the complaint. Either 4
party shall have the right to a trial by jury. 5
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or rule, the defendant shall 6
file an answer within five business days after receiving the complaint. The 7
computation of the five-day period shall include the day on which the 8
defendant receives the complaint. 9
(c) When the court sets the date for the initial hearing on the complaint, 10
dates shall also be set for consideration of lease violations and for payment of 11
rent into court if a motion for such payment was filed pursuant to section 12
4853a, 4853b, or