9 V.S.A. § ___ § 2453
Practices prohibited; antitrust and consumer protection
Operative Text
(a) Unfair methods of competition in commerce and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in commerce are hereby declared unlawful. (b) It is the intent of the Legislature that in construing subsection (a) of this section, the courts of this State will be guided by the construction of similar terms contained in Section 5(a)(1) of the Federal Trade Commission Act as from time to time amended by the Federal Trade Commission and the courts of the United States. (c) The Attorney General shall adopt rules, when necessary and proper to carry out the purposes of this chapter, relating to unfair methods of competition in commerce and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in commerce. The rules shall not be inconsistent with the rules, regulations, and decisions of the Federal Trade Commission and the federal courts interpreting the Federal Trade Commission Act. (d) Violation of a rule adopted by the Attorney General is prima facie proof of the commission of an unfair or deceptive act in commerce. (e) The provisions of subsections (a), (c), and (d) of this section shall also be applicable to real estate transactions. (Added 1967, No. 132, § 1, eff. April 17, 1967; amended 1969, No. 45, § 8, eff. April 4, 1969; 1969, No. 278 (Adj. Sess.); 1973, No. 221 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. June 7, 1974; 1999, No. 65 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 2011, No. 109 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 8, 2012; 2011, No. 136 (Adj. Sess.), § 1a, eff. May 18, 2012; 2017, No. 74, § 13.)
Vermont law under 9 V.S.A. ch. 63 § 2453 declares unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in commerce to be unlawful, and this prohibition explicitly extends to real estate transactions. Vermont courts are directed to interpret these terms in alignment with how the Federal Trade Commission Act and federal courts have construed similar language. The state Attorney General is empowered to adopt rules implementing these standards, and violating any such rule serves as prima facie evidence that an unfair or deceptive act has occurred.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in Vermont should be aware that 9 V.S.A. ch. 63 § 2453 applies consumer protection and anti-deception standards directly to real estate transactions. Compliant operators generally ensure that all representations made to prospective or current tenants — including those about unit conditions, fees, lease terms, and availability — are accurate and not misleading. Operators also typically stay informed of any rules adopted by the Vermont Attorney General under this chapter, since violating those rules constitutes prima facie proof of a deceptive act.
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. 63 § 2453, tenants in Vermont have the protection of consumer protection law applied to their real estate transactions, meaning deceptive or unfair conduct by a landlord may constitute a violation of state law. If a landlord has violated a rule adopted by the Vermont Attorney General under this chapter, that violation is treated as prima facie evidence of an unfair or deceptive act, which can be significant in any legal proceeding. Tenants who believe they have experienced deceptive practices may consider filing a complaint with the Vermont Attorney General's Consumer Assistance Program or consulting a tenant-rights organization 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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