Required Disclosures for Vermont Residential Landlords

Vermont law requires landlords to provide several key disclosures to tenants at the start of a tenancy. While many disclosures are standard, Vermont recently added a mandatory flood hazard disclosure under 9 V.S.A. § 4466 that requires a specific model form. Other critical disclosures include the identity of the owner and property manager under 9 V.S.A. § 4454.

The § 4466 Flood Hazard Disclosure

Effective as of June 2024, Vermont law requires landlords to disclose if any portion of the rental premises is located in a FEMA-mapped special flood hazard area. The statute provides a specific model form that landlords must use to ensure compliance with this requirement.

Required Disclosure Items

1. Identity of Owner and Agent (§ 4454): The full legal name and mailing address of the property owner and any authorized property management agent must be disclosed in writing. This ensures the tenant always knows who to contact and where to serve legal notice.

2. Lead Paint Disclosure: For any dwelling unit constructed prior to 1978, the landlord must provide:

• The EPA pamphlet "Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home."
• A statement disclosing any known lead-based paint or lead hazards in the unit.
• A signed Lead Warning Statement as part of the lease.
• Vermont has historically high rates of childhood lead poisoning in older housing stock, making this disclosure especially critical.

3. Smoking Policy: The landlord must disclose whether smoking is permitted or prohibited inside the rental unit and in any common areas of the building. This includes electronic cigarettes and vaping devices if specified.

4. Energy Efficiency: The landlord must provide information about the energy efficiency of the unit, including any available energy audit data. Given Vermont's extremely cold winters and high heating costs, this disclosure helps tenants understand their expected utility expenses before signing a lease.

5. Flood Hazard Area (§ 4466): If the rental property is located in a designated flood hazard area (as identified by FEMA maps), the landlord must use the state-approved model disclosure form to inform the tenant.

6. Sewage and Water Supply: Information about the type and condition of the sewage disposal system and the water supply (particularly relevant for rural Vermont properties relying on private wells and septic systems).

Consequences of Non-Disclosure

Failure to provide the required statutory disclosures can have significant legal consequences:

• A tenant may use the landlord's failure to disclose as a defense in an eviction proceeding.
• The landlord may be liable for damages, court costs, and the tenant's attorney's fees.
• In lead paint cases, landlords can face additional federal penalties and personal liability for childhood lead poisoning injuries.

Automate Vermont Disclosures

Vermont's disclosure landscape requires tracking multiple statutes, from owner identity under § 4454 to the specific flood hazard model form under § 4466. Landager automatically generates a compliant disclosure package, pre-populating owner data, lead paint status based on construction year, and flagging properties in FEMA zones to trigger the § 4466 form automatically.

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How Landager Helps

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