Section 13 120 003 - VERMONT WEATHERIZATION TRUST FUNDSection 1Intent It is the intent of the Vermont Weatherization Trust Fund (VWTF) program that all low income Vermonters be eligible to participate in the program regardless of their status as a homeowner or tenant. To that end the program encourages rental property owners to participate while preserving the affordability and availability of rental housing for low income persons.
Section 2 Rent Stabilization Agreement1. All rental property owners participating in the program shall complete a Weatherization Program Landlord Agreement as approved by the State Office of Economic Opportunity. The term of such agreements shall range from 1 - 10 years. The term is to be negotiated to provide the maximum benefit to the low-income tenants.2. Projects which involve the replacement of a heating system shall require the Landlord Agreement to extend at least 2 years.Section 3 Funds Recapture1. Should a rental property be sold within 3 years of the completion of the project, the rental property owner shall return a portion of the total cost of the project less any owner copayment according to the following schedule: Closing Date Payment
0 - 12 months
resulting in loss of low-income occupancy 100%
not resulting in loss of low-income occupancy 75%
13 - 24 months 50%
25 - 36 months 25%
2. Payments shall be forwarded to the State Office of Economic Opportunity for deposit into the Vermont Weatherization Trust Fund.3. A suitable lien agreement approved by the State Office of Economic Opportunity, shall be utilized.Section 4 Owner Copayments Heating System Replacement1. The replacement of heating systems for rental properties is eligible under the program with the preapproval of the State Office of Economic Opportunity.2. The property owner shall make a negotiated copayment of a portion of weatherization costs unless waived by the Office of Economic Opportunity and shall make a copayment of not less than 50% of the cost of the heating system replacement. Owners who themselves meet program low-income eligibility standards shall not be required to make copayments.3. Failure of the property owner to agree to a copayment shall not prevent eligible tenants from receiving weatherization assistance. Such failure shall disqualify the property from heating system replacement as a program expense.Section 5 Waiver of requirements The State Office of Economic Opportunity or other agency administering the VWTF program from time to time may waive application of any part of this rule upon a finding that doing so will advance the intent of the program and that the benefits of weatherization assistance will accrue primarily to eligible low-income tenants.
13-003 Code Vt. R. 13-120-003-X
EFFECTIVE DATE: February 11, 1991 (SOS Rule Log #91-7)
AMENDED: April 22, 1996 (SOS Rule Log #96-25)