(e) If a park owner fails to return the security deposit with a statement within 14 days,
the park owner forfeits the right to withhold any portion of the security deposit.
If the failure is willful, the park owner shall be liable for double the amount wrongfully
withheld, plus reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.
(f) Upon termination of the park owner’s interest in the park, the security deposit shall
be transferred to the new park owner. The new park owner shall give the leaseholder
actual notice of the new park owner’s name and address with a statement that the security
deposit has been transferred to the new park owner.
(g) A municipality may adopt an ordinance governing security deposits on mobile homes
or mobile home lots. The ordinance shall be supplemental to and not inconsistent with
the minimum protections of the provisions of this section. The ordinance may not limit
how a security deposit is held. The ordinance may authorize the payment of interest
on a security deposit. The ordinance may provide that a housing board of review constituted
pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 5005 may hear and decide disputes related to security deposits upon request for a hearing
by a park owner or leaseholder. The board’s actions shall be reviewable under 24 V.S.A. § 5006. (Added 1993, No. 141 (Adj. Sess.), § 9, eff. May 6, 1994; amended 2007, No. 176 (Adj. Sess.), § 65; 2019, No. 131 (Adj. Sess.), § 16; 2021, No. 20, § 49.)