MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – More than $300,000 in security deposits will be returned to people kicked out of Vermont’s homeless hotel-motel program.
This comes after Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark reached a $1.5 million settlement with motel owner Anil Sachdev. Clark says Sachdev, who owns five motels across the state, did not keep proper documentation on damages after the departure of each occupant, and only partially paid back some security deposits, keeping the rest.
The motel owner filed more than half a million dollars in damages from occupants of the state’s transitional housing program.
Regardless of whether an occupant did any damage, Clark says those who did not receive a timely notice for their security deposit will receive $3,300.
“Money not paid out to former occupants have been– or will be– put to reasonable repairs, maintenance and improvements with verification provided to the state by July of this year,” said Clark, D-Vt. Attorney General.
The five motels included in the settlement include the Comfort Inn (Rutland), EconoLodge (Montpelier), Hilltop Inn (Berlin), Pine Tree Lodge (Rutland) and Quality Inn (Brattleboro).
A third-party administrator will establish a website people can visit to claim deposits and will begin sending out claim forms to qualified former occupants within a couple of weeks.
Former occupants with questions can call the Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program at 800-649-2424.
Click here to read the settlement.