Vermont gives landlords more flexibility on rent increases than many states there's no statewide rent control setting a maximum percentage. But "flexible" doesn't mean "informal." Get the notice period wrong, and a rent increase can be unenforceable, plus a new law taking effect this year changes how often you can raise rent at all.

The 60-Day Notice Rule

Under Vermont law (9 V.S.A. § 4455), landlords must give tenants at least 60 days' written notice before a rent increase takes effect, and the increase can only take effect on the first day of a rental period following that notice. This applies to both fixed-term leases and month-to-month agreements, and to written or oral rental agreements alike.

Burlington is the exception. Due to the city's local rent-related ordinance, landlords in Burlington must give at least 90 days' written notice — 30 days longer than the statewide minimum.

The notice must:

• Be in writing (a verbal notice isn't valid)
• State the new rent amount
• State the effective date
• Be delivered by hand or first-class mail to the tenant's last known address

You Can't Raise Rent Mid-Lease

If a tenant is in a fixed-term lease, the rent generally can't be increased until that lease term ends or renews, unless the lease itself contains a specific clause allowing a mid-term adjustment. For month-to-month tenants, the 60-day notice period is the operative constraint rather than a lease end date.

What's Changing: Vermont's New Once-Per-Year Rule

Vermont's HB 772 takes effect July 1, 2026, and prohibits landlords from raising rent more than once per year. Previously, Vermont law placed no limit on how frequently a landlord could raise rent, as long as each increase came with proper 60-day notice. That's changing — for any rent increase after the effective date, landlords need to track the timing of the tenant's prior increase to stay compliant, not just the notice period.

This is a meaningful shift for owners who've historically used more frequent smaller adjustments rather than one larger annual increase, and it's recent enough that many landlords — and some smaller local management operations — may not have updated their process yet.

Rent Increases and Retaliation

Vermont law prohibits rent increases (and other landlord actions) that are retaliatory — meaning taken because a tenant complained about a code violation, joined a tenant organization, or exercised another legal right. If an increase happens shortly after a tenant complaint, a Vermont court may scrutinize whether it was retaliatory rather than routine, even if the notice period was followed correctly. Documenting a consistent, market-based rationale for increases — not just proper notice — is good practice for this reason.

Practical Timing for Owners

Because the notice period is 60 days (90 in Burlington) and now limited to once annually starting mid-2026, planning ahead matters more than it used to:

1. Decide on the new rent amount with enough lead time to serve notice 60–90 days before you want it to take effect
2. Confirm the increase doesn't violate the once-per-year rule if this isn't the tenant's first increase since July 1, 2026
3. Deliver written notice by hand or first-class mail, and keep proof of delivery
4. Time the increase to align with a lease renewal date where possible, to avoid mid-term disputes

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How much can a landlord raise rent in Vermont? There's no statewide cap on the percentage — Vermont doesn't have rent control at the state level. Local ordinances, like Burlington's, may impose additional requirements. The main statewide constraints are the notice period and, starting July 2026, the once-per-year limit.
2. Can I raise rent during a tenant's lease term? Generally no, unless the lease specifically allows for a mid-term adjustment. Most rent increases take effect at lease renewal or, for month-to-month tenants, after proper notice.
3. Does the new once-per-year rule apply to all Vermont rentals? HB 772 applies broadly to Vermont rental housing starting July 1, 2026 — confirm current scope and any exceptions directly with the Vermont statutes or an attorney, since implementation details can be refined after a law's effective date.
4. What happens if I don't give proper notice for a rent increase? An improperly noticed rent increase generally isn't enforceable — the tenant can continue paying the prior rent amount until a compliant notice is served and the new notice period runs.

The Bottom Line

Vermont's rent increase rules are more flexible than many states on the amount, but strict on process — proper written notice, correct timing, and, as of mid-2026, a new limit on frequency. Getting this wrong risks an unenforceable increase or a retaliation claim. BlackHorse Property Management handles rent increase notices and timing correctly as part of ongoing management. Contact us if you'd like help managing this for your property.



This is a general overview, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with 9 V.S.A. § 4455 or a qualified Vermont attorney, particularly given the new rules taking effect in 2026.