Burlington charter amendment on rent notices prompts testimony on housing effects

Burlington councilor Carter Neubieser told the Vermont House Committee on Government Operations & Military Affairs on May 21 that a charter amendment approved by Burlington voters would let the city set notice periods and related conditions for rent increases and lease terminations by ordinance rather than by fixed charter language.

The issue matters, Neubieser said, because local officials want flexibility to set notice requirements that reflect market conditions: "we wanted the city to have the ability to sort of make that call now, but also 10 years from now, 20 years from now." He told the committee the council unanimously placed the amendment on the ballot and it received "just over 65% of the vote."

The measure under review by the committee is tied to H.508, the legislative vehicle to approve amendments to the City of Burlington charter. Proponents told the committee the change removes specific timing (for example, a 90‑day notice referenced in the…