Vermont mobile home rights cheat sheet

A quick reference to how Vermont law generally treats mobile home park lot tenancies. Vermont has a strong dedicated park law — the Mobile Home Parks act, 10 V.S.A. Chapter 153 — plus the Uniform Bill of Sale law (9 V.S.A. Chapter 72) for transfers. This is general information, not legal advice, and the authors are not lawyers — for a specific situation, consider consulting a licensed attorney in Vermont. Each line cites the controlling statute; read it at the official source linked in Sources below.

At a glance

Topic	What the law generally provides	Cite
Governing law	Dedicated Mobile Home Parks act (10 V.S.A. Ch. 153).	§6201+
Written lease	Required; uniform terms; charges hold ≥ 1 year.	§6236
Rent increase	60-day notice to residents + state; ineffective without it; none in 6 mo before closure.	§6251, §6236(c)
Rent increase challenge	If > 1 point above housing CPI, majority can force state-paid mediation (park bears burden).	§6252
Eviction — grounds	Only: nonpayment, substantial lease violation, change of use, or park termination.	§6237(a)
Eviction — notice	20 days to pay overdue rent (certified mail); 3 months to sell/move home after judgment.	§6237
Self-help barred	No utility shutoff or lockout except by court order.	§6245
Retaliation	Barred; damages, attorney fees, and a defense.	§6247
Entrance fee	Prohibited; only disclosed rent/utility/service charges collectible.	§6238, §6236(e)
Security deposit	Itemized return within 14 days; forfeiture + double damages if willful.	§6244
Sell in place	Buyer refused only for failing lease terms / admission policy; no commission unless park contracts.	§6240
Park sale	Residents get notice + first chance to buy (45-day + 120-day); penalty for skipping.	§6242
Park closure	18-month notice; no evictions in that period except cause; intent-to-sell first.	§6237a
Habitability	Warranty of safe utilities, water, sewage, and roads (emergency-vehicle access); no waiver.	§6262, §6263
Repair & deduct	Minor defect after 30 days' notice; deduct ≤ ½ month's rent.	§6264
Goods/services	Free choice of vendors; no forced contract.	§6239
Flood disclosure	Lease must disclose flood-hazard status; seller discloses home flood history.	§6236(e)(8); 9 V.S.A. §2602
Title / transfer	No DMV title — town-clerk-endorsed Uniform Bill of Sale (taxes paid first); deed if real estate.	9 V.S.A. §2602, §2604

How to use this

This sheet summarizes; it does not replace the statute or legal advice. Vermont's act is administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development, which handles rent-increase mediation and park closures, and a resident may recover damages and attorney fees for violations (§6246). Start with your written lease and its required disclosures, then check the controlling section for your issue.

Where to read more

• Vermont topic guides on FightMyPark: lot rent, eviction, fees, utilities, buying, selling, title, and storm.
• The official statute text and agency pages, linked in the Sources section below.