Tenant urges just‑cause eviction and rental registry; small landlords warn reforms could strain local providers

Burlington — At a House General and Housing Committee hearing convened at 1 p.m., tenant advocate Nora Arons and housing provider John Dunbar delivered contrasting testimony about landlord‑tenant dynamics and possible statutory changes, including statewide just‑cause eviction protections and a rental registry.

Arons, who testified she was nominated as a tenant representative to a landlord‑tenant law study committee, told the committee she has lived in seven Burlington apartments and "have endured 4 different no cause terminations carried out by my landlords — 4 no cause evictions in 3 years." She said that uncertainty is "overwhelming" and urged passage of statewide just‑cause eviction legislation and a rental registry so tenants can remain near their work and support networks.

The issue matters, she told lawmakers, because of the tight rental market and affordability pressures. Arons said Chittenden County has a rental vacancy rate of "less than 1%" and said research she cited showed an…