Vt. Human Rights Comm'n, HV19-0018, Investigative Report & Reasonable Grounds Determination

Another issue between Mr. Deery and Ms. Weygant was that Mr. Deery wanted to increase the
amount of rent he was charging. Ms. Taylor said that Mr. Deery sent in a letter saying he wanted
to raise rent to $850 and she spoke to him and told him she couldn't allow that.sr In her
interview, she explained that a landlord can raise the rent, but the tenant would have to pay the
difference.s2 Ms. Weygant and Ms. Taylor discussed the rent raise, and Ms. Weygant told Ms.
Taylor, "I can't afford the extra money."83 The portion of the rent paid by Ms. Weygant was
$424.84

Another issue between Mr. Deery and Ms. Weygant was smoking. The rent agreement states that
Ms. Weygant agrees that the apartment is nonsmoking.tt Mr. Deery said that, when the weather
was good, Ms. Weygant would smoke and drink on the back porch.86 Mr. Deery said he knew
she also smoked inside the house because he could smell it.87

7r Interview with Ms. Weygant, 6125/2019.
72
Complaint.
73
Interview with Ms. Weygant, 612512019.
7a
Interview with Ms. Weygant, 612512019; Initial Evaluation of Ms. Weygant's daughter from Vetmont Deparlment
of Health, 2128/2017.
7s
Id.
T6Interview with Ms. Weygant, 612512019.
77
Id.
78
Complaint.
Te
Interview with Ms. Weygant, 6125/2019.
80
Interview with Mr. Deery, 611312019.
8r Interview with Ms. Taylor, 611112019.
82
Id.
83
Id.
84
Id.
85
Rent Agreement, 11112016.
86
Interview with Mr. Deery, 611312019.
87
Id.
When Mr. Deery asked Ms. Weygant to leave, she had more than a month's advance notice.88 He
said, "I've always been fair with ftenants], and I expect them to be fair with me."8e Ms. Weygant
moved out in June of 20 1 S.eo