On Your Own; Your Legal Right @ Eighteen On Your Own formatted final version | Page 63

The eviction case will eventually be scheduled for trial unless the tenant
and landlord work out a deal beforehand. Such a deal may provide, for
example, that the tenant will move out on a certain day, in exchange for
the landlord dropping some or all of his or her claim for back rent. It may
also provide that the landlord will do needed repairs and the tenant will
start paying rent again when the repairs are completed. Any settlement
should be put in writing with each party getting a copy, and another copy
should be filed with the court clerk.
Some organizations offer free or low-cost legal advice to low-income
Vermonters in certain types of cases. A good place to start is Legal Services
Vermont at 1-800-889-2047.
Illegal Evictions
It is ILLEGAL for the landlord to:
TURN OFF the heat, electricity, or other utilities except for temporary
interruptions for emergency repairs.
PADLOCK OR CHANGE THE LOCK on the door to the apartment (without a
court order) so the tenant cannot get in.
MOVE THE TENANT’S BELONGINGS out of the apartment without a court
order, unless the tenant has abandoned the apartment.
CONFISCATE OR DENY A TENANT ACCESS TO HIS OR HER
BELONGINGS due to back rent owed or any other reason. (The landlord
may, however, require the tenant to pay reasonable moving and storage
costs if the landlord has lawfully removed the tenant’s property.)
Remedies for Illegal Evictions
If the landlord has done any of the above, the tenant should:
Notify local and/or state police at once that the landlord has committed
an illegal eviction.
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