Vermont H. 772, A Bill That Would Destroy Critical Tenant Protections

For immediate release / February 11, 2026

Vermont Legislature Reviewing H. 772, A Bill That Would Destroy Critical Tenant Protections

In the midst of one of the worst housing crises in the country, Vermont lawmakers are considering a bill that could increase unsheltered homelessness and burden the state’s already struggling safety net.

Right now, the Vermont Legislature is reviewing H. 772, a bill that proposes sweeping changes to the Residential Rental Agreements Act. The RRAA was a law enacted 40 years ago to strike a balance between the property rights of landlords and tenants. But this new proposed bill would remove those important protections for tenants in the RRAA.

As written, this bill guts tenants’ procedural due process rights in a variety of ways, including eliminating a tenant’s right to a jury trial — a fundamental right guaranteed to all Vermonters in our state’s constitution. It would allow a landlord to evict someone who refused to accept a landlord’s changes to a lease already in effect. It adds multiple additional grounds for eviction based on nothing more than the landlord’s unchallenged accusations against a tenant. It drastically reduces or even eliminates the days of required notice before the tenant’s termination date. It also substantially reduces the time a tenant has to answer an eviction complaint from 21 days to a mere 5 or 7 days after they have been served with the court papers, increasing the likelihood that many tenants won’t be able to answer on time, defend themselves against an unfair eviction, or get legal help, back rent, or other assistance to resolve the problem.

Vermont is experiencing a housing crisis. Vermont does not have enough permanent residential housing. Vermont does not have enough affordable housing. Housing stability has been shaken because low availability has caused rents to skyrocket. Vermont’s per capita homeless population is the 4th highest in the nation. From 2019 to 2024, Vermont’s rental vacancy rate dropped from 4.5% to just 2.1%. During this same period, median gross rent jumped 34.6%, from $980 to $1,319. There are barriers to exiting homelessness. Rather than welcoming new households to Vermont’s economy, Vermont is losing population. This bill will do nothing to encourage safe, affordable rental housing for Vermonters or people moving into the state. Instead, it proposes to force tenants out into homelessness by ripping away vital protections, making it harder for working class families and seniors living on fixed incomes to stay in their homes.

Vermont Legal Aid urges all Vermonters to call or write their legislators and ask them to vote “no” on H. 772. Visit the Legislature's website to learn how to contact them.