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Rep. Chloe Tomlinson introduces broad tenant‑rights bill including rental registry, right to counsel and purchase right
Summary
State Representative Chloe Tomlinson introduced H.399, a comprehensive tenant‑rights bill proposing written rental agreements, limits on no‑cause evictions and rent increases, a rental registry, an Office of Tenant Rights Advocate, right to counsel in eviction cases, eviction‑record expungement, and a tenant first right to purchase for 3+ unit properties.
State Representative Chloe Tomlinson introduced House Bill H.399 on April 9, describing an omnibus package of tenant protections that would create written rental agreement requirements, limit no‑cause evictions and annual rent increases, establish a rental registry and an Office of Tenant Rights Advocate, and provide a right to counsel in eviction proceedings.
Tomlinson said the bill is intended to address Vermont’s housing crisis and protect renters from eviction and excessive rent burdens. She framed the bill’s goals this way: to preserve access to stable housing, reduce eviction‑related barriers and expand tenant protections while the state continues to work on increasing housing supply.
Key provisions Tomlinson described in the introduction include requirements that certain rental agreements be in writing, limits on no‑cause evictions and annual rent increases (the bill’s language pins rent increases to “CPI plus 1 or 5%, whichever is lower”), a rental registry, an Office of Tenant Rights Advocate (modeled on the Office of the Health Care Advocate), a right to counsel in eviction proceedings, expungement of certain eviction records, a tenant/community first right to purchase for multi‑unit properties (generally 3+ units), and a revolving loan fund to enable purchase.
Tomlinson also noted that the bill would add citizenship and immigration status to the list of protected classes under existing discrimination prohibitions. During Q&A she said the bill’s rough appropriation numbers included about $4,000,000 from the general fund to the Department for Housing and Community Development (DHCD), with part for funding the Office of Tenant Rights Advocate and part for legal services.
Committee members asked clarifying questions about the rental registry (committee members noted prior controversy and alternative data sources such as landlord forms and CAMA), the scope of the tenant purchase right (Tomlinson said it applies to buildings with 3 or more units), and the proposed rent‑increase cap formula. Tomlinson said the bill draws on the landlord‑tenant study committee report and related work and urged the committee to hear the bill.
Next steps: H.399 was introduced and presented to the committee for consideration and questions. No committee vote or amendment was recorded at the April 9 introduction.
