Once the tenant is served with the writ, they must move out within 14 days. If the tenant hasn’t moved out by the deadline, the sheriff can enforce the writ by forcibly removing the tenant.
If the tenant is served with a Writ of Possession because they missed a rent escrow payment, the deadline to move out is shorter: 7 days after being served instead of 14 days. If the tenant is evicted this way, there will still be a trial if there were claims for money owed.
A Writ of Possession is only effective for 60 days after it is issued. If the landlord does not have the tenant served within that timeframe, the Writ is no longer in effect.
12 V.S.A. § 4854.
Security deposits and tenant's belongings
Security Deposits
The VTLawHelp website has information about Security Deposits, including a Security Deposit Roadmap.
What can a security deposit be used for?
The landlord can use the security deposit for:
Unpaid rent.
Damage to the property beyond normal wear and tear.
Unpaid utility bills.
Cost to remove belongings the tenant left behind.
After deducting any of these expenses, the landlord must return the rest of the security deposit and provide an itemized list of deductions to the tenant.
If the amount of the security deposit does not cover all of the items listed above, the landlord can pursue more payment from the tenant. The landlord can do this as part of the eviction case if it’s still pending, or they can file a separate small claims case.
What is the landlord’s deadline to return the security deposit?
The landlord must return the tenant’s security deposit within 14 days after the tenant moves out or they discover the tenant has moved. The security deposit can be returned by mail or hand delivery.