9 V.S.A. § ___ § 4474
Confidentiality
Operative Text
An owner, landlord, or housing subsidy provider who possesses documentation or information concerning a protected tenant’s status as a victim of abuse, sexual assault, or stalking shall keep the documentation or information confidential and shall not allow or provide access to another person unless: (1) authorized by the protected tenant; (2) required by a court order, government regulation, or governmental audit requirement; or (3) required as evidence in a court proceeding, provided: (A) the documentation or information remains under seal; and (B) use of the documentation or information is limited to a claim brought pursuant to section 4472 or 4473 of this title. (Added 2019, No. 48, § 2.)
Under 9 V.S.A. ch. 137 § 4474, when a landlord, property owner, or housing subsidy provider holds records or information identifying a tenant as a victim of abuse, sexual assault, or stalking, that information must be kept strictly confidential. The rule prohibits sharing or providing access to such information to any outside party except in three narrow circumstances: with the tenant's own authorization, when compelled by a court order or government requirement, or when introduced as sealed evidence in specific legal proceedings under sections 4472 or 4473 of the same chapter. Even in that last exception, the information must remain under seal and its use is tightly limited.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators covered by 9 V.S.A. ch. 137 § 4474 generally maintain strict internal controls over any documentation or information that identifies a resident as a protected tenant—meaning a victim of abuse, sexual assault, or stalking. Compliant operators limit staff access to such records on a need-to-know basis, obtain written authorization from the tenant before sharing information with any third party, and respond to court orders or government audit requirements only to the extent legally compelled. When such records are introduced in litigation under sections 4472 or 4473, operators ensure the materials are filed under seal and used only for the permitted purpose.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 4474 of Title 9, Chapter 137 of Vermont law gives protected tenants—those who have disclosed their status as a victim of abuse, sexual assault, or stalking—a right to have that sensitive information kept confidential by their landlord, owner, or housing subsidy provider. A landlord generally may not share that information without the tenant's own authorization, except in very limited legal circumstances. Tenants who believe this confidentiality protection has been violated may consider consulting a tenant-rights organization, a legal aid office, or an attorney familiar with Vermont housing law to understand what options may be available under this provision.
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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