Landlord group director backs modest H.772 timing changes but warns draft narrows expedited hearings

Summary

Angela Zakowski, director of the Vermont Landlords Association, told the Senate Judiciary Committee that H.772 would modestly speed some evictions but raised concerns that draft 1.2's new "ongoing or repeated threat" language and removed provisions could limit enforcement and burden landlords and courts.

Angela Zakowski, director of the Vermont Landlords Association and a practicing attorney, told the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 24 that H.772 represents a modest, negotiated set of changes to Vermont's eviction law but that recent edits in draft 1.2 may unintentionally narrow who can access a faster court process.

"7 7 2 was the culmination of about in years worth of work," Zakowski said, describing negotiations among housing providers, legal-aid attorneys and legislators. She told senators she supports limited reforms that would create a somewhat faster path to hearings for cases tied to unpaid rent and "substantial violations" such as drug activity or violence.

Zakowski said eviction-related property damage and violent incidents have increased since the moratorium lifted and that repairs now sometimes require tens of thousands of dollars. "Now I am regularly seeing damaged units that are costing about $20,000 to $40,000 to repair," she said,…

Landlord group director backs modest H.772 timing changes but warns draft narrows expedited hearings

Summary

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