Vermont · VT · updated 2026
In Vermont, a landlord must return a security deposit within 14 calendar days
Quick answer
A Vermont landlord has 14 calendar days after you move out to return your deposit or send an itemized list of deductions. Miss it in bad faith and the landlord can end up owing you more than the deposit itself.
Under Vermont security deposit law, a Vermont landlord has 14 calendar days to return your security deposit, counted from when you move out. By statute, Vermont sets no statutory cap on how much a landlord can charge. If the landlord misses the deadline or keeps money you are owed, you can push back in writing and, if needed, in small claims court.
- Return deadline
- 14 calendar days
- Deadline counted from
- you move out
- Itemized statement
- Required
- Move-in condition list
- Not required by statute
- Maximum deposit
- No statutory cap
- Interest on deposit
- Not required
Calculate your exact Vermont deadline
Enter your move-out date to see the exact calendar date the deadline lands on. It runs on your device, so nothing you type is uploaded.
What a Vermont landlord can deduct
- Unpaid rent and unpaid utilities you owe under the lease
- Repair of damage beyond ordinary wear and tear (not normal aging, fading, or minor marks)
- An itemized written statement of every deduction (Vermont requires it, so ask for it in writing)
If the landlord withholds in bad faith
Failure to return the deposit with a statement within 14 days forfeits the landlord's right to withhold any portion; if the failure is willful, the landlord is liable for double the amount wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees and costs.
How to get your deposit back in Vermont
- Document the unit's condition at move-out with dated photos of every room (a move-in / move-out checklist keeps it organized).
- Confirm your exact return deadline with the deadline calculator.
- If the deadline passes, send a written demand letter citing the statute and the amount owed.
- If it is still ignored, you can file in small claims court.
Common Vermont deposit disputes
- The deadline passed and you have heard nothing
- Send a written demand letter citing the statute and the amount owed. Keep proof you sent it.
- You got money back but disagree with the deductions
- Vermont requires an itemized statement, so ask for it in writing first, then dispute anything charged as ordinary wear and tear.
- You are still deciding whether the case is worth it
- Confirm the exact deadline below, gather your dated move-out photos, and read the penalty your state allows before you commit.
Frequently asked
- How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Vermont?
- In Vermont, a landlord must return a security deposit within 14 calendar days.
- How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Vermont?
- Vermont statute sets no maximum on the security deposit a landlord can charge.
- Can my Vermont landlord keep my deposit for cleaning or normal wear?
- Deductions are generally limited to unpaid rent and damage beyond ordinary wear and tear. Vermont requires the landlord to give an itemized statement of deductions.
- Does a Vermont landlord have to pay interest on my deposit?
- No. Vermont does not require the landlord to pay interest on the security deposit.
- What if my Vermont landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit?
- Failure to return the deposit with a statement within 14 days forfeits the landlord's right to withhold any portion; if the failure is willful, the landlord is liable for double the amount wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees and costs.
Landlord must return the deposit with an itemized deduction statement within 14 days of move-out (60 days for seasonal, non-primary-residence rentals). Missing the deadline forfeits the right to withhold; willful violation doubles the penalty. No statewide cap; municipalities may require interest.