Full question:
My tenant while vacating the rental property has left behind some furniture. It seems that the tenant has discarded the furniture. I wish to rent out the property again, so I need to remove the tenant’s discarded furniture from the rental property. I am yet to refund the tenant’s security deposit. Can I deduct the amount spent on removing the tenant’s discarded furniture from the security deposit? I am a resident of Vermont.
- Category: Landlord Tenant
- Subcategory: Return Personal Property
- Date:
- State: Vermont
Answer:
In Vermont, landlords can deduct certain costs from a tenant's security deposit under 9 V.S.A. § 4461. Specifically, a landlord may retain all or part of the security deposit for:
- Nonpayment of rent;
- Damage to the property, unless due to normal wear and tear;
- Nonpayment of utility or other charges;
- Expenses to remove articles abandoned by the tenant.
Since the furniture appears to be discarded, you can deduct the costs incurred for its removal from the security deposit. Remember to return the remaining deposit along with an itemized statement of deductions within fourteen days after discovering the tenant has vacated (or within sixty days for seasonal rentals).
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.