habitability protected.
Landlords must maintain habitable premises. Tenants may repair and deduct or withhold rent after notice for serious defects.
What this means for you: Vermont recognizes both repair-and-deduct and rent withholding after proper notice.
Your next step: Send written notice and set aside withheld rent if you withhold.
Source: Vt. Stat. tit. 9, § 4458, § 4459. Reviewed 2026-06-16 (needs local verification).
More Vermont rights: Vermont security deposit · Vermont eviction · Vermont entry notice · Vermont rent increase.
Repairs in nearby states: New Hampshire (habitability protected) · Massachusetts (habitability protected) · New York (habitability protected).
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and vary by locality; consult a licensed attorney or your local housing authority.
Updated July 2026