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Vermont security deposit: 14 days to get it back

The landlord must return the deposit, with a written itemized statement of any deductions, within 14 days after the landlord discovers the tenant has vacated or abandoned the unit (or after the vacate date, if the tenant gave notice of it). For seasonal rentals that are not a primary residence, the period is 60 days.

What the law requires

Itemized statement: If the landlord keeps any part, it must send a written itemized statement of deductions, by hand delivery or mail to the tenant's last known address. Allowed deductions: unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear, unpaid utility or other charges owed, and removal of abandoned belongings. The statute sets no receipt threshold.
Forwarding address: No. The statute does not require a forwarding address; the landlord sends the statement and any payment to the tenant's last known address. Giving the landlord notice of the move-out date can start the 14 days.
If the landlord breaks the rules: If the landlord misses the 14-day deadline, it forfeits the right to withhold any part of the deposit. If the failure is willful, the landlord is liable for double the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney's fees and costs.
Loss of the right to deduct: Yes. A landlord that misses the 14-day deadline loses the right to withhold any portion of the deposit.
Deposit cap: No statewide cap in § 4461 as currently published. Bills to add a cap were introduced in 2026 (H.565: 3 months' rent; H.772 draft: 2 months'), but H.772 failed a Senate third-reading vote on May 27, 2026, and no cap appears to have been enacted.
Small claims limit: $10,000 in Vermont Superior Court, Civil Division (Small Claims)
Statute: Vt. Stat. tit. 9, § 4461 (9 V.S.A. § 4461)

Local rules

§ 4461(g) lets towns adopt supplemental deposit ordinances (for example, interest on deposits or a housing board of review to hear disputes), so local rules may add to the state rule. Individual town ordinances were not reviewed.

If your landlord misses the deadline

Write down your dates and gather proof: move-out date, the date you gave your forwarding address, the deposit amount, and anything the landlord sent. Photos and receipts help.
Send a written demand by certified mail, keep the receipt, and cite Vt. Stat. tit. 9, § 4461. Give a date to respond.
If you still aren't paid, file in Vermont Superior Court, Civil Division (Small Claims). Deposit claims up to $10,000 can be filed there, usually without a lawyer. Check the court's website for current filing fees and forms.

What a Vermont demand letter looks like

Re: Demand for return of security deposit / Rental address: [Street address, unit, city, state ZIP]

Dear [Landlord name]:

I rented the property above from you under a lease that began on [lease start date]. I paid a security deposit of $[deposit amount] on [date paid]. I moved out and returned possession on [move-out date].

My forwarding address is [forwarding address]. Please send my deposit and any required statement to that address.

[A.] I have not received my deposit or an itemized statement of deductions. Under Vt. Stat. tit. 9, § 4461, a landlord must return a tenant's security deposit, or send an itemized statement of any deductions, within 14 days after the tenant moves out. That deadline passed on [deadline date].

Preview of the first part of letter one. Yellow marks the parts you fill in.

Common questions

How long does a landlord in Vermont have to return a security deposit?

What happens if a Vermont landlord keeps the deposit wrongfully?

If the landlord misses the 14-day deadline, it forfeits the right to withhold any part of the deposit. If the failure is willful, the landlord is liable for double the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney's fees and costs. Yes. A landlord that misses the 14-day deadline loses the right to withhold any portion of the deposit.

Do I have to give my Vermont landlord a forwarding address?

No. The statute does not require a forwarding address; the landlord sends the statement and any payment to the tenant's last known address. Giving the landlord notice of the move-out date can start the 14 days.

Where do I sue for my deposit in Vermont?

Deposit claims up to $10,000 can be filed in Vermont Superior Court, Civil Division (Small Claims). Check the court's website for current filing fees and forms.

Other states

Rules reviewed October 2026. Laws change, so confirm with the statute before you rely on this page.