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Radon in Vermont rentals

One in seven Vermont homes has elevated levels of radon,⁠1 and renters breathe the same air. The EPA says that if you don’t know whether your building has been tested properly, you can test for radon yourself or ask the owner to test.⁠2

For tenants

  • Test. The Health Department Lab sells the same kits to anyone: the long-term kit, its recommended test, is $25.⁠3 The EPA recommends testing all homes below the third floor.⁠2
  • If the result is high, tell the owner in writing. That’s the EPA’s advice.⁠2 At or above 4.0 pCi/L, the Health Department and EPA recommend reducing radon.⁠1
  • Know who does the work. The EPA says it is generally the building owner, and not the tenant, who is authorized to have radon mitigation work done.⁠2

Test your apartment or rental home

Order the Health Department Lab’s long-term kit for $25⁠3 and leave it in place for 3 to 12 months, ideally including a heating season.⁠1

Want to see levels day to day? A digital monitor measures and records radon continuously while it has power.⁠4 Use it alongside the lab test, not instead of it: CRCPD says to check a consumer monitor’s results with an approved test.⁠5

Order the $25 long-term kit See Airthings monitors Affiliate link

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The state lab kit is not an affiliate link. To order by phone, call 802-338-4736 or 800-660-9997.⁠1

For landlords

  • Test the units. The EPA recommends testing all homes below the third floor.⁠2 Neighboring homes can have significantly different radon levels,⁠1 and high radon levels have been found in all types of homes in every area of Vermont.⁠6
  • If a result is 4.0 pCi/L or higher, the Health Department says to contact a certified radon mitigation contractor.⁠7 It estimates $1,500 to $2,500 for the common vent-pipe-and-fan system.⁠7 See Find a certified contractor.
  • Help paying is for owner-occupants. The NeighborWorks programs the Health Department lists require that you own and live in your home.⁠8

What Vermont law says

Vermont’s landlord-tenant law says a landlord covenants and warrants to deliver over and maintain, throughout the tenancy, premises that are safe, clean and fit for human habitation and that comply with applicable building, housing and health regulations.⁠9 That section doesn’t mention radon by name. For a sale, the Health Department says Vermont law does not require a radon test as part of a real estate transaction.⁠1 This page isn’t legal advice; for a question about your lease or rights, ask a lawyer or a tenant or landlord organization.

Common questions

Can I test for radon if I rent?

Yes. The EPA says that if you do not know whether your building has been tested properly for radon, you can test for radon yourself or ask the owner to test.⁠2

Who fixes radon in a rental?

The EPA says it is generally the building owner, and not the tenant, who is authorized to have radon mitigation work done.⁠2

Is there help paying for radon mitigation for a rental property?

The Health Department’s listed NeighborWorks programs offer low-cost loans and grants for home repairs, including radon mitigation, but you must own and live in your home and have a gross household income under 80% of the area median income.⁠8

Last reviewed How we source facts

Sources

9 official sources
  1. Vermont Department of Health. Radon in Your Home. Checked 2026-10-17. ↩
  2. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A Radon Guide for Tenants (EPA 402-K-98-004). Checked 2026-10-17. ↩
  3. Vermont Department of Health Laboratory. Radon Test Kits (Health Department Lab webstore). Checked 2026-10-17. ↩
  4. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Home Buyer’s and Seller’s Guide to Radon (EPA 402/K-24/001, March 2024). Checked 2026-10-17. ↩
  5. Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD). Consumer Digital Radon Monitors (CRCPD guidance, reprinted in The Radon Reporter, Q4 2025, p. 39). Checked 2026-10-17. ↩
  6. Vermont Department of Health. Testing for Radon in Your Home (fact sheet, July 2025). Checked 2026-10-17. ↩
  7. Vermont Department of Health. Fixing Radon in Your Home (fact sheet, January 2024). Checked 2026-10-17. ↩
  8. Vermont Department of Health. Financial Assistance (Healthy Homes). Checked 2026-10-17. ↩
  9. Vermont Legislature. 9 V.S.A. § 4457: Landlord obligations; habitability. Checked 2026-10-17. ↩

A radon reminder each fall