27 V.S.A. § ___ § 1356
Leaseholder conversion period
Operative Text
(a) Each leaseholder shall have a conversion period of six months from the date of notice of conversion to elect to become either a purchasing or a nonpurchasing leaseholder. (b) During the conversion period, the declarant shall offer to convey each site to the leaseholder at the price, terms and conditions stated in the notice of conversion. Unless the leaseholder provides written notice that the leaseholder will not purchase the site, the declarant may not offer the site for sale to any other person within the conversion period. (c) A leaseholder may elect to become a purchasing leaseholder by negotiating a purchase and sale agreement with the declarant within the conversion period. Such agreement shall be on terms at least as favorable to the leaseholder as those stated in the notice of conversion. A leaseholder may assign the purchase and sale agreement to any site purchaser. (d) Failure to elect under this section within the conversion period shall be deemed to be an election to become a nonpurchasing leaseholder. (Added 1993, No. 97, § 1.)
Under 27 V.S.A. ch. 15 § 1356, when a mobile home park or similar leased-site community is being converted, each leaseholder receives a six-month window from the date of the conversion notice to decide whether to purchase their site or remain as a nonpurchasing leaseholder. During that period, the declarant (the party initiating the conversion) must hold the site open for the leaseholder and cannot offer it to outside buyers unless the leaseholder formally declines in writing. If a leaseholder chooses to buy, any purchase agreement reached must be on terms at least as favorable as those originally offered in the conversion notice, and the leaseholder may transfer that agreement to another buyer.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators and declarants managing a conversion under 27 V.S.A. ch. 15 § 1356 generally ensure that each leaseholder receives a proper notice of conversion that clearly states the price, terms, and conditions of the site offer. Throughout the six-month conversion period, compliant declarants refrain from marketing or offering any site to third parties unless the leaseholder has provided written notice declining to purchase. When a purchase and sale agreement is negotiated, declarants confirm that its terms are no less favorable to the leaseholder than those set out in the original conversion notice.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 27 V.S.A. ch. 15 § 1356, leaseholders in a converting community have a protected six-month period to decide whether to purchase their site, and the declarant is generally prohibited from selling that site to anyone else during that window without the leaseholder's written declination. If a leaseholder negotiates a purchase agreement, the law requires it to be on terms at least as favorable as those in the original notice, and the leaseholder may assign that agreement to another purchaser. Leaseholders who believe their rights under this section have not been honored may consider reaching out to a tenant-rights organization, a housing advocacy group, or Vermont legal aid for information about 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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