Vt. lawmakers, Scott administration seek compromise on rental registry

MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) - Vermont lawmakers and the Scott administration are seeking a compromise on a bill that would create a rental registry for landlords.

It would have created a statewide registry of all long-term apartments and short-term Airbnb, and create six new positions in the state to oversee rental safety checks. Gov. Phil Scott, R-Vermont, vetoed it, citing concerns of growing bureaucracy.

At a key legislative meeting this week, Vermont lawmakers and Scott administration officials spoke about some of their priorities ahead of the next session, including building more housing units and revisiting S.79. Lawmakers say they want to meet with housing advocates, and the governor’s team is looking to clarify misconceptions in the bill and get on the same page.

Department of Housing & Community Development Commissioner Josh Hanford told lawmakers that over the next two years using federal American Rescue Plan funds, the state is looking to bring over 1,500 units of housing online with 745 set aside for Vermonters experiencing homelessness.