Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJDonovan announced today that Ship Sevin, LLC and Ship Sevin, LLC II, hasagreedto pay a penalty of $30,000 to the State of Vermont, and to reimburse Vermonters for illegal fees paid to Ship Sevin. Ship Sevin leases mobile homes, mobile home lots, and residential rental properties in Bennington, Caledonia, Chittenden, Lamoille, Rutland, and Washington Counties.
Ship Sevin violated Vermont’s Consumer Protection Act by charging tenants unreasonable and undisclosed fees. Vermont law requires that all terms governing mobile home rentals be contained in a written lease, and that all lease terms be reasonable and fair. Landlords may only collect properly disclosed rental and utility charges, and other reasonable incidental service charges.
“Affordable housing is fundamental,” said Attorney General Donovan. “There is no room in Vermont for unfair, deceptive, or hidden fees in rental housing,” he said. “This resolution provides relief to affected park occupants by giving them back the money they were unlawfully charged,” said Donovan.
In addition to paying a $30,000 penalty to the State of Vermont, Ship Sevin has agreed to hire a Third-Party Administrator to determine the refund amounts owed to all former and current tenants of Ship Sevin, to vacate any evictions where illegal fees were included with nonpayment of rent, and to notify public housing authorities if vouchers were terminated on that basis so occupants may request having their vouchers restored. Vermonters will receive a check for any refund amount owed to them within the next two months. Any former or current tenant of Ship Sevin who has questions about the settlement should contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program at 1-800-649-2424.
Vermont AG: June 30, 2017