9 V.S.A. § ___ § 4454
Attempt to circumvent
Operative Text
No rental agreement shall contain any provision that attempts to circumvent or circumvents obligations and remedies established by this chapter and any such provision shall be unenforceable and void. (Added 1985, No. 175 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
Vermont law under 9 V.S.A. ch. 137 § 4454 prohibits rental agreements from including any clause designed to get around the rights, obligations, and remedies that the chapter establishes. If such a clause is included in a lease, it has no legal effect and cannot be enforced against either party. The rest of the rental agreement, however, may remain intact even if one provision is struck down as void.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under 9 V.S.A. ch. 137 § 4454, lease terms that attempt to waive or sidestep tenant protections established by Vermont's residential rental statutes are automatically unenforceable. Compliant operators generally review their lease templates to ensure no clause purports to limit statutory remedies, waive required notice periods, or shift legally mandated obligations onto tenants. Using a lease form that has been reviewed for compliance with Vermont's rental statutes helps avoid the risk of having key provisions declared void.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 4454 of 9 V.S.A. ch. 137 means that a landlord cannot use lease language to strip away the rights and remedies Vermont law gives you as a renter — any such clause is void from the start. If a landlord attempts to enforce a lease provision that appears to circumvent your statutory rights, that provision generally cannot be used against you in a legal proceeding. Tenants who encounter such clauses may consider contacting a local tenant-rights organization or Vermont Legal Aid to understand what options are available.
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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