Leaving a Lease Because of Abuse or Stalking
9 V.S.A. § 4472 — 30 days' written notice with documentation ends the lease without penalty
A protected tenant who reasonably believes it necessary to leave because of fear of imminent harm from abuse, sexual assault or stalking, or after a sexual assault on the premises within the six months before, may end the rental agreement without penalty or liability.
- Not less than 30 days before the date, the tenant gives written notice and documentation from a court, police, an assistance program, a professional, or a signed self-certification on a standard form.
- The notice can be revoked in writing if the landlord has not yet rented to someone else.
- A protected tenant may ask the landlord to change the locks within 48 hours, and if the landlord does not, may change them and give the landlord a key within 24 hours.
Sources for this section (2)
- 9 V.S.A. § 4472 — Right to terminate rental agreement
- 9 V.S.A. § 4473 — Right to change locks; other security measures
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Vermont attorney.