Vermont Tenants
A professional demand letter citing Vermont's security deposit statute (9 V.S.A. § 4461), the 14-day return deadline, and the double-damages penalty for willful withholding. Ready in minutes.
Deadline
14 days
to return your deposit after move-out
Penalty
2× (willful)
plus forfeiture for missing the deadline
Statute
§ 4461
Vermont Statutes, Title 9
Under 9 V.S.A. § 4461, your landlord has 14 days after your tenancy ends to return your security deposit along with a written, itemized statement of any deductions. Missing that deadline forfeits the right to withhold.
If the landlord willfully fails to comply, you may recover:
So a $1,500 deposit willfully withheld can support a court judgment of $3,000 plus fees. Most landlords settle quickly once they realize you know the law.
Note: Even short of willful conduct, missing the 14-day deadline forfeits the landlord’s right to keep any part of your deposit. Seasonal or non-primary residences carry a 60-day deadline instead. Some Vermont municipalities (such as Burlington) add their own ordinances.
Every letter follows the structure courts expect — your facts, the statute, a specific demand, and a deadline. Here's the skeleton; the generator fills the brackets from your answers and computes Vermont's deadlines under § 4461.
[Date]
[Your name]
[Your forwarding address]
[Landlord's name and address]
RE: Security Deposit — Formal Demand for Return of $[Amount]
I am the former tenant of [rental property address]. You accepted a security deposit of $[Amount], and my tenancy ended on [move-out date]. My forwarding address for return of the deposit is stated above, which I am providing to you in writing.
Under § 4461, you were required to [return the deposit or provide an itemized statement] within [the statutory period]. That period has passed, and you have done neither. [The specific consequence Vermont law attaches, cited by section.]
I demand return of $[Amount] no later than [deadline]. If I do not receive it, I am prepared to pursue all remedies available under [statute], including filing suit in the appropriate court.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
14 days after you move out.
Missing the 14-day deadline forfeits the right to withhold any portion of the deposit under § 4461(e); a willful violation adds double the amount wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney fees and costs.
9 V.S.A. § 4461. We verify these against the statute text itself; the date we last checked is shown on this page.
Sources & verification
The Vermont rules on this page were verified against the statute text itself:
Last verified against primary sources on .
How we verify this →Laws change. If you spot something out of date, tell us at support@gettenantshield.com and we'll correct it.
Properly formatted, addressed to your landlord by name, citing the exact Vermont statutes that apply to your situation.
9 V.S.A. § 4461 and any others triggered by your circumstances — not generic legalese.
The letter computes the exact dollar amount you're entitled to demand based on your deposit and the deductions at issue.
Download instantly, print, sign, and send via USPS Certified Mail with Return Receipt.
Most Vermont landlords return the deposit within days of receiving a properly drafted demand letter.
Generate my letter — $39