9 V.S.A. § ___ § 4462
Abandonment; unclaimed property
Operative Text
(a) A tenant has abandoned a dwelling unit if: (1) there are circumstances that would lead a reasonable person to believe that the dwelling unit is no longer occupied as a full-time residence; (2) rent is not current; and (3) the landlord has made reasonable efforts to ascertain the tenant’s intentions. (b) If the tenant abandons the dwelling unit, the tenant shall remain liable for rent until the expiration of the rental agreement. However, if the landlord rents the dwelling unit before the expiration of the rental agreement, the agreement terminates on the date of the new tenancy. (c)(1) If any property, except trash, garbage, or refuse, is unclaimed by a tenant who has abandoned a dwelling unit, the landlord shall give written notice to the tenant mailed to the tenant’s last known address that the landlord intends to dispose of the property after 60 days if the tenant has not claimed the property and paid any reasonable storage and other fees incurred by the landlord. The landlord shall place the property in a safe, dry, secured location, but may dispose of any trash, garbage, or refuse left by the tenant. The tenant may claim the property by providing the landlord with the following within 60 days after the date of the notice: (A) a reasonable written description of the property; and (B) payment of the fair and reasonable cost of storage and any related reasonable expenses incurred by the landlord. (2) If the tenant does not claim the property within the required time, the property shall become the property of the landlord. If the tenant claims the property within the required time, the landlord shall immediately make the property available to the tenant at a reasonable place and the tenant shall take possession of the property at that time and place. (d) Any personal property remaining in the dwelling unit or leased premises after the tenant has vacated may be disposed of by the landlord without notice or liability to the tenant or owner of the personal property, provided that one of the following has occurred: (1) The tenant provided actual notice to the landlord that the tenant has vacated the dwelling unit or leased premises. (2) The tenant has vacated the dwelling unit or leased premises at the end of the rental agreement. (Added 1985, No. 175 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1999, No. 115 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2007, No. 176 (Adj. Sess.), § 46.)
Under 9 V.S.A. ch. 137 § 4462, a dwelling unit is considered abandoned when a reasonable person would conclude it is no longer a full-time residence, rent is overdue, and the landlord has made reasonable efforts to learn the tenant's intentions. A tenant who abandons a unit generally remains on the hook for rent through the end of the rental agreement, unless the landlord re-rents the unit, at which point the original agreement ends. For personal property left behind, the law sets out specific procedures—including a 60-day notice and storage requirement—that govern whether the landlord or tenant ultimately controls what happens to those belongings.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators dealing with a potentially abandoned unit under 9 V.S.A. ch. 137 § 4462 generally document the observable conditions suggesting non-occupancy, confirm that rent is unpaid, and make reasonable documented efforts to contact the tenant before treating the unit as abandoned. When non-trash property is left behind, compliant landlords send written notice to the tenant's last known address, store the property in a safe, dry, secured location for at least 60 days, and track any reasonable storage costs they intend to recover. If the tenant has given actual notice of vacating, or has left at the natural end of the rental agreement, the statute permits disposal of remaining personal property without additional notice.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 9 V.S.A. ch. 137 § 4462, a tenant whose unit is deemed abandoned may still owe rent through the end of the rental agreement, though that obligation ends if the landlord successfully re-rents the unit. If personal property is left behind after an abandonment, the tenant has 60 days from the landlord's written notice to claim it by providing a written description of the items and paying reasonable storage costs. Tenants who believe a landlord has improperly declared abandonment or disposed of property without following the required procedures may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider to understand available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 18, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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