Female Narrator: When you move into a rental unit in Vermont…

(Visual: A closed red door with a handle and a keyhole drops down from the top of the screen. It lands on top of a purple horizontal line that has slid in from the right side and is mimicking a floor. From the left side, a golden key moves into the keyhole and turns to unlock the door. The door swings open.)

Female Narrator: you pay the landlord a security deposit.

(Visual: A cupped hand moves in from the right side towards the unlocked and opened red door. Three green banknotes tumble out of the doorway and into the cupped hand. The hand takes the green banknotes and disappears.)

Female Narrator: When you move out, you’ll’ want to get that security deposit back.

(Visual: The red door shuts and the key turns in the keyhole to lock the door. The key pulls out of the keyhole and hovers in front of the door. Three green banknotes and seven gold coins stack on top of each other in front of the door.)

Female Narrator: To successfully do that, follow these steps.

(Visual: An eighth gold coin flips in the air and bounces off the top of the stack of gold coins, before falling off screen. The red door, the gold key, the stack of green banknotes, and the stack of gold coins slide upward and off screen in a transition.)

Step 1: Know your rights

Female Narrator: Step 1: Know your rights.

(Visual: A purple horizontal line slides in from the right and stops in the center of the screen. In the same purple color, the words “Step 1” appear above the line, followed by “Know your rights”, which appear below the line. The words slide upward and off screen in a transition.)

Female Narrator: In Vermont, a landlord can only keep your security deposit for four reasons:...

(Visual: The words disappear and the purple horizontal line moves two-thirds of the way down the screen. An open, blue envelope full of green banknotes pops up from the purple horizontal line. To the right of the envelope, the torso and head of a figure pops up from the purple horizontal line. The figure is wearing a red shirt and has brown hair in a bun. The envelope closes, concealing the green banknotes, and the figure reaches out their hand to clasp the envelope. Holding the envelope, the figure and the purple horizontal line slide to the left and offscreen in a transition.)

Female Narrator: Unpaid rent; Unpaid utility bills; Removing stuff you left behind; Or, damage beyond normal wear and tear.

(Visual: Four different graphic icons will appear one by one on screen from the right hand side. Once they all appear, they will be in four different quadrants of the screen, and be separated by a purple cross in the middle. The first graphic icon to appear is a blue envelope with a yellow piece of paper unfurling from within that has a red stamp on it that reads “PAST DUE”. The second graphic icon to appear is a single grey faucet with a drop of water coming out of it, next to a lightbulb. The third graphic icon to appear is two full, black garbage bags next to a yellow pail with water pooling underneath it. The fourth and final icon to appear is a smashed window with a brown window frame—as if someone threw an object through the window.)

Female Narrator: What does “beyond normal wear and tear” mean?

(Visual: The icon of the smashed window slides to the center of the screen while the other three icons disappear. A purple horizontal line emerges below the smashed window, followed by the words “Beyond normal wear and tear” in the same purple color.)

“Beyond normal wear and tear”

Female Narrator: This is any damage you caused or let happen while you were renting the unit...

(Visual: The smashed window moves to the left end of the purple horizontal line and the previously seen locked red door drops down on top of the now vacant right side of the purple horizontal line. The red door breaks off its hinges and tilts crookedly behind its door frame.)

Female Narrator: more damage than would normally happen over time.

(Visual: The words “Beyond normal wear and tear” remain on the screen below the purple horizontal line. The smashed window and crooked red door slide farther along the horizontal purple line towards the left side. A blue shower drops down on top of the now vacant right side of the purple horizontal line. The shower is broken; Water gushes from the point where the showerhead meets the wall.)

Female Narrator: Normal wear and tear would include things like worn carpet or walls that need fresh paint.

(Visual: The smashed window, the crooked red door, the broken shower, and the words “Beyond normal wear and tear” slide to the left and off screen in a transition. They are replaced by a brown frame on top of a purple horizontal line that slides in from the right and stops in the center of the screen. The legs and feet of a figure walk from left to right through the brown frame on a brown carpet. The months of the year, beginning with January and cycling through to December, are written below the purple horizontal line. A can of white paint drops down from the top of the brown frame and lands on the carpet.)

Female Narrator: You’re not responsible for that type of damage.

(Visual: the brown frame slides to the right end of the purple horizontal line and the torso and head of a figure pops up on the left end of the purple horizontal line with their arms crossed in front of their chest. They are wearing an orange shirt.)

Female Narrator: If the landlord wants to keep some or all of your security deposit, they must tell you why in writing.

(Visual: The torso and head of the previously seen figure wearing a red shirt with their brown hair in a bun appears on top of the purple horizontal line but on the right side of the brown frame. They also have their arms crossed in front of their chest. A yellow piece of paper with writing on it unfurls over top of the brown frame. A purple pen appears next to the paper. All elements on screen slide to the left and off screen in a transition.)

Step 2: Be prepared

Female Narrator: Step 2: Be prepared

(Visual: A purple horizontal line slides in from the right and stops in the center of the screen. In the same purple color, the words “Step 2” appear above the line, followed by “Be prepared”, which appear below the line. The words slide upward and off screen in a transition.)

Female Narrator: When you move in, take pictures and notes of any existing damage.

(Visual: The previously seen red door drops down from the top of the screen onto a purple horizontal line. The red door opens and a cell phone passes through the door. The cell phone starts snapping pictures.)

Female Narrator: Ask your landlord to join you.

(Visual: The torso and head of the previously seen figure wearing a red shirt, with their brown hair in a bun, and their arms crossed in front of their chest appears on the right end of the purple horizontal line. They observe the cell phone taking pictures.)

Female Narrator: Keep records of how and when you pay rent.

(Visual: The figure with their arms crossed and the red door disappear. The cell phone moves to the center of the screen. On the cell phone a calendar appears and a button that says “Rent Paid”.

Female Narrator: If you pay cash, always ask for a receipt.

(Visual: A yellow piece of paper with the word “Receipt” at the top appears next to the cell phone. On the receipt, dollar amounts are added up and totaled at the bottom of the page.)

Female Narrator: Tell your landlord, in writing, when anything needs repair and keep copies for yourself. Otherwise, they might claim later that they didn’t know.

(Visual: The cell phone and receipt disappear in a transition, replaced by the torso and head of the previously seen figure wearing an orange shirt. The figure is using a purple pen to write on a pad of paper. Two yellow pieces of paper with the word “COPY” on them pop up from behind the figure. On the right side of yellow papers, the torso and head of the previously seen figure wearing a red shirt, with their brown hair in a bun, and their arms crossed in front of their chest appears. They look towards the yellow papers and the figure in the orange shirt. All elements on screen slide to the left and off screen in a transition.)

Step 3: Clean up and move out

Female Narrator: Step 3: Clean up and move out

(Visual: A purple horizontal line slides in from the right and stops in the center of the screen. In the same purple color, the words “Step 3” appear above the line, followed by “Clean up and move out”, which appear below the line. The words slide upward and off screen in a transition.)

Female Narrator: When you move out, take away all of your belongings and trash.

(Visual: The scene is a room with a brown carpet. In the middle of the room sits a purple couch. Beside the couch is a small bookshelf and in front of the couch is a brown coffee table. To the left of the room is the previously seen two full, black garbage bags next to a yellow pail with water pooling underneath it. All the objects in the room slide off screen to the right, leaving the room empty save for the brown carpeted floor.)

Female Narrator: Leave the home as clean as it was when you moved in.

(Visual: the empty room sparkles.)

Female Narrator: Ask your landlord to inspect your home with you again.

(Visual: The previously seen figure wearing a red shirt with their brown hair in a bun appears on the right side of the room. This time, we can see their head, torso, and legs, which now wear a navy blue skirt. The previously seen figure wearing an orange shirt appears on the left side of the room. This time, we can see their head, torso, and legs, which now wear purple shorts. This figure is also holding the previously seen purple pen and notepad.)

Female Narrator: Take pictures and notes for yourself, and invite a witness if you like.

(Visual: The previously seen cell phone swoops in between the two figures and starts snapping pictures. The head, torso, and legs of a third figure pops up from the bottom of the screen into the empty room. This figure is wearing a green button up shirt with a blue vest on top and navy blue pants.)

Female Narrator: Tell your landlord, in writing, the date you moved out and where to send your security deposit. Keep a copy.

(Visual: The cell phone disappears and is replaced by a purple pen and a yellow piece of paper that has the words “Date” and “New Address” on it. A second yellow piece of paper with the word “COPY” on it appears behind the first yellow piece of paper. All elements on screen slide to the left and off screen in a transition.)

Step 4: Deal with the response from the landlord

Female Narrator: Step 4: Deal with the response from the landlord

(Visual: A purple horizontal line slides in from the right and stops in the center of the screen. In the same purple color, the words “Step 4” appear above the line, followed by “Deal with the response from the landlord”, which appear below the line. The words slide upward and off screen in a transition.)

Female Narrator: Under Vermont Law, your landlord has 14 days from when they know you have moved out to deal with your security deposit.

(Visual: A purple flip book calendar with the number “2” written on the front drops down from the top of the screen onto a purple horizontal line. Pages get ripped off the calendar, to reveal different dates and show time passing. The previously seen figure in the orange shirt as well as the figure in the red shirt appear on either side of the calendar. We only see their heads and torso above the purple horizontal line. The calendar disappears and is replaced by the previously seen stack of green banknotes and gold coins.)

Female Narrator: If they keep any of it, they must give a written explanation. If you disagree, you can continue these steps.

(Visual: The stack of green banknotes and gold coins is split in half – half moving in front of the figure in the orange shirt and the other half moving in front of the figure in the red shirt. The figure in the red shirt crosses their arms in front of their chest. A purple pen next to a yellow piece of paper with indistinguishable writing on it unfurls between the two figures. The figure in the orange shirt crosses their arms in front of their chest. All elements on screen slide to the left and off screen in a transition.)

Step 5: Write and file your complaint

Female Narrator: Step 5: Write and file your complaint

(Visual: A purple horizontal line slides in from the right and stops in the center of the screen. In the same purple color, the words “Step 5” appear above the line, followed by “Write and file your complaint”, which appear below the line. The words slide upward and off screen in a transition.)

Female Narrator: If your home was in Burlington, ask for a hearing with the Burlington Housing Board of Review...

(Visual: The words disappear and the purple horizontal line moves two-thirds of the way down the screen. A webpage with a virtual map of Burlington pops up from the purple horizontal line. A yellow map marker with a small icon of a house in it drops down from the top of the screen and lands in the center of the map. The words “Burlington Housing Board of Review” appear below the purple horizontal line.)

Female Narrator: at burlingtonvt.gov

(Visual: The map swipes to the left on the webpage and disappears, replaced by a blank search bar. At the same time, a purple cursor swoops onto the screen. The cursor clicks on the search bar and the word “burlingtonvt.gov” is typed out letter by letter into the search bar.)

Female Narrator: Do it quickly, because the deadline is short.

(Visual: A small purple clock appears on top of the top right corner of the webpage. The arms of the clock spin around clockwise to show time passing. The webpage and the clock slide upward and off screen in a transition.)

Female Narrator: If you file with the Burlington Housing Board of Review, they will send you a letter about your hearing.

(Visual: The top of a blue envelope pops up from a purple horizontal line that is two thirds of the way down the screen. The envelope opens to reveal a yellow piece of paper with the word “Hearing Notice” at the top. The envelope slides back down into the purple horizontal line, disappearing.)

Female Narrator: If your home was elsewhere in Vermont, file a complaint with the small claims court in that country.

(Visual : The previously seen webpage with a virtual map and a yellow map marker with a small icon of a house in it pops up from the purple horizontal line. However, this time, there is also a search bar at the bottom of the webpage that types out “Vermont” – indicating that the map is of Vermont. The webpage moves to the left end of the purple horizontal line and the facade of an old-style, triangular-roofed courthouse made up of 6 white pillars pops up from the right end of the purple horizontal line. In the same purple color, the words “Small claims court” appear below the purple horizontal line.)

Female Narrator: If you file in small claims court, wait for your landlord to answer your complaint in writing.

(Visual: A brown paper envelope with the word “COMPLAINT” on it moves in an arc from behind the webpage of the map and disappears through the white pillars of the courthouse.  A small purple clock appears in the center of the screen above the webpage and the courthouse. The arms of the clock spin around clockwise to show time passing.)

Female Narrator: Watch our video about the small claims court process in Vermont to learn more.

(Visual: The clock and the courthouse disappear and the webpage enlarges to fit center screen. The map swipes to the left on the webpage and disappears. The box that was once a webpage has morphed into a video player with a play/pause button in the bottom left corner. Within the video player is a webpage with a search bar in the middle and the words “Legal Services Vermont” below it – indicating that the webpage represents the Legal Services Vermont website. At the same time, a purple cursor swoops onto the webpage within the video player. The cursor clicks on the search bar and the word “vtlawhelp.org” is typed out letter by letter into the search bar. All elements on screen slide to the left and off screen in a transition.)

Step 6: Prepare for a hearing

Female Narrator: Step 6: Prepare for a hearing

(Visual: A purple horizontal line slides in from the right and stops in the center of the screen. In the same purple color, the words “Step 6” appear above the line, followed by “Prepare for a hearing”, which appear below the line.)

Female Narrator: If your landlord disagrees, you will have a hearing.

(Visual: The words slide to the left and off screen in a transition and the purple horizontal line moves two-thirds of the way down the screen. The torso and head of the previously seen figure wearing a red shirt, with their brown hair in a bun, and their arms crossed in front of their chest pops up on the right end of the purple horizontal line. The previously seen old-style, triangular-roofed courthouse made up of 6 white pillars pops up on the left end of the purple horizontal line. Both the figure and the courthouse slide back down into the purple horizontal line, disappearing.)

Female Narrator: Get ready by gathering photos, receipts, and statements from you and your witnesses.

(Visual: A yellow piece of paper with indistinguishable writing on it pops up from the purple horizontal line. The yellow paper has a few polaroid pictures paperclipped to its top left corner. A second, smaller yellow piece of paper with the word “RECEIPT” on it pops up from the purple horizontal line in front of the first yellow piece of paper. On the receipt, dollar amounts are added up and totaled at the bottom of the page. The previously seen figure wearing an orange shirt with their arms crossed in front of their chest pops up from the left end of the purple horizontal line. This time, we can see their full body, which is wearing purple shorts and white shoes. The previously seen figure wearing a green button up shirt with a blue vest on top and navy blue pants pops up from the purple horizontal line next to the figure in the orange shirt. All elements on screen slide to the left and off screen in a transition.)

Step 7: Collect the judgement

Female Narrator: Step 7: Collect the judgement

(Visual: A purple horizontal line slides in from the right and stops in the center of the screen. In the same purple color, the words “Step 7” appear above the line, followed by “Collect the judgement”, which appear below the line.)

Female Narrator: After a small claims hearing, the judge will make a decision at the hearing or in writing after the hearing.

(Visual: The words slide to the left and off screen in a transition and the purple horizontal line moves two-thirds of the way down the screen. The previously seen white courthouse pops up in the center of the screen from the purple horizontal line. A purple outlined circle with a wooden gavel in it pops out from behind the courthouse, positioned above and to the left of the courthouse. The gavel strikes a sound block twice. A purple outlined circle with a brown paper envelope with the word “JUDGEMENT” on it pops out from behind the courthouse, positioned above and to the right of the courthouse. The envelope opens and a yellow piece of paper with indistinguishable writing on it unfurls. The two purple bubbles disappear back behind the courthouse in a transition.)

Female Narrator: If they decide your landlord must pay back your deposit, they have 30 days to pay.

(Visual: A purple outlined circle with the previously seen stack of green banknotes and gold coins pops out from behind the courthouse, positioned above and to the left of the courthouse. A purple outlined circle with the previously seen purple flip book calendar with the number “25” written on the front pops out from behind the courthouse, positioned above and to the right of the courthouse. Pages get ripped off the calendar to show time passing and stop at the number “30”. The two purple circles and the courthouse slide down into the purple horizontal line, disappearing.)

Female Narrator: If you have a hearing with the Burlington Housing Board of Review, you will get a decision at the hearing or in writing after the hearing.

(Visual: A dark grey, two story building with 6 windows and glass double doors pops up in the center of the screen from the purple horizontal line. In the same purple color, the words “Burlington Housing Board of Review” appear below the purple horizontal line. A purple outlined circle with a purple check mark and a purple “X” in it pops out from behind the courthouse, positioned above and to the left of the courthouse. The check mark turns from purple to green. Then, the “X” turns from purple to red. A purple outlined circle with a brown paper envelope with the word “DECISION” on it pops out from behind the courthouse, positioned above and to the right of the courthouse. The envelope opens and a yellow piece of paper with indistinguishable writing on it unfurls. All elements on screen slide to the left and off screen in a transition.)

Female Narrator: Find more details about this process on the Legal Services Vermont website or contact us for quick advice.

Legal Services Vermont
Working together for justice
1-800-889-2047
vtlawhelp.org

(Visual: A purple horizontal line slides in from the right and stops in the center of the screen. The Legal Services Vermont logo pops up in the center of the screen from the purple horizontal line. In the top left corner of the rectangular shaped logo is a square graphic. The graphic is of four rolling hills stacked vertically. Each hill is a different shade of green and is a part of a gradient that goes from darkest on the bottom to lightest at the top. Next to the square graphic are the words “LEGAL SERVICES VERMONT” in the same color as the darkest shade of green in the graphic. Below these two elements are the words “WORKING TOGETHER FOR JUSTICE” in the second lightest shade of green from the graphic. These three elements make up the Legal Services Vermont logo. Below the purple horizontal line, and in the same color, the words “1-800-889-2047” and “vtlawhelp.org” are typed out letter by letter.”

End of transcript.

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