On Your Own; Your Legal Right @ Eighteen On Your Own formatted final version | Page 55

Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) at 802-864-0099. You can also download
their handbook “The Definitive Guide to Renting in Vermont” at
https://www.cvoeo.org/fileLibrary/file_212.pdf.
Residential Leases
Rental agreements can be either oral or written. Oral agreements are just
as binding as written agreements, but they are more difficult to prove, and
while there is no law stating that a tenant must receive a written lease, it
is preferable for both parties to get any agreements in writing.
Tenants should always get copies of leases and all agreements that they
sign. Without a copy of the lease, a tenant may have difficulty proving to
the terms of the rental agreement. All written agreements should be kept
in a safe and accessible place to refer to if and when problems arise.
Agreements between roommates regarding financial and other
responsibilities should also be written down with copies to all involved, as
they can also be helpful in preventing problems.
Leases may be transferred from one landlord to another when the building
is sold.
The rental agreement determines the specific rights and responsibilities of
both tenants and landlords, but it cannot contradict or override federal,
state, or local laws. For example, a landlord may not put a provision in a
lease allowing him or her to physically kick a tenant out or cut off the
utilities because of unpaid rent.
You should always read leases carefully and ask about terms you don’t
understand, and you should try to get landlords to change or remove lease
terms which seem unfair. If either landlords or tenants have questions
about the legality of a clause in the lease, they should seek legal advice.
Discrimination is Illegal
You should know that federal and state laws make it illegal, with a few
exceptions, for landlords to refuse to show or to rent property to you or
to require different rental terms because of your age, sex, sexual
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