Landlord laws
New Hampshire landlord-tenant law
N.H. RSA ch. 540 (Actions Against Tenants) and ch. 540-A (Residential Rental Property), plus RSA 354-A:10 (official text, gc.nh.gov)
Last verified Oct 2026
General information only. Not legal advice. RentToolkit is not a law firm. Laws and local ordinances change, so check the statute and consult a licensed attorney in your state before acting.
| Topic | Rule (plain English) | Statute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security deposit cap | A deposit may not exceed 1 month's rent or $100, whichever is greater. The deposit rules don't apply to someone renting a single-family home who owns no other rental, or to units in an owner-occupied building of 5 or fewer units, unless the occupant is 60 or older. | RSA 540-A:6, I(a); 540-A:5, I | Verified |
| Deposit return deadline | Return the deposit, with any interest due, within 30 days after the tenancy ends. You may deduct repair costs for damage beyond reasonable wear and tear, plus unpaid rent, the tenant's lease share of real-estate tax increases, and other unpaid lawful charges. Give a written, itemized list describing each repair, with evidence such as receipts or estimates. Failing to comply makes you liable for twice the deposit plus interest, less lawful deductions. You aren't liable if the tenant didn't give you a new address. | RSA 540-A:7; 540-A:8, I(b), II | Verified |
| Deposit holding and interest | Hold the deposit in trust, not mixed with your own money. You may pool deposits in one trust account at a New Hampshire bank or credit union, or post a bond with the town clerk instead. If you hold a deposit for 1 year or more, pay interest at the account's savings rate. Give a signed receipt stating the amount and where it's held (not needed if paid by check), and tell the tenant in writing to list needed repairs within 5 days of move-in. | RSA 540-A:6, I(b)–(c), II, IV | Verified |
| Late fee cap and grace period | Not specified in state statute. New Hampshire statutes set no residential late-fee cap and require no grace period. We checked RSA ch. 540 and 540-A. Note: Late-fee limits, if any, come from the lease and contract case law, not statute. | RSA ch. 540, 540-A | Not in statute |
| Landlord entry notice | Don't enter without the tenant's prior consent, except to make emergency repairs (including responding to an infestation within 72 hours of notice) or under a court order. The tenant may not refuse access for repairs or other reasonable functions at a reasonable time after adequate notice. The statute sets no specific number of hours, except 48 hours' written notice to check for bed bugs. | RSA 540-A:3, IV, IV-a, V, V-b, V-d | Verified |
| Rent increase notice | Give written notice of the amount and effective date of a rent increase at least 30 days before it takes effect. If you did, a tenant's refusal to agree to the increase is good cause for eviction. | RSA 540:2, IV | Verified |
| Rent control status | Not specified in state statute. No statewide rent control, and no state statute bans local rent limits. We checked RSA ch. 540 and 540-A. Note: Whether a municipality may adopt rent limits depends on law outside these chapters. | RSA ch. 540, 540-A | Not in statute |
| Eviction notice: nonpayment | After demanding the rent, give 7 days' written notice to quit. The case must be dismissed if, before the hearing, the tenant pays all rent due, lawful charges, $15 liquidated damages, and your filing and service costs. A tenant may use this only 3 times in 12 months. | RSA 540:2, II(a); 540:3, II; 540:9 | Verified |
| Eviction notice: lease violation | For failure to comply with a material term of the lease, give 30 days' written notice to quit. Notice is 7 days for substantial damage or behavior that threatens others' health or safety. For 'restricted property' (most residential rentals; see RSA 540:1-a), you may evict only for a cause listed in the statute. If you rely on 'other good cause' based on the tenant's conduct, first give a written warning. The statute gives no right to cure. | RSA 540:2, II–III; 540:3, II | Verified |
| Required disclosures | Before collecting a rental application fee, disclose in writing the fee and any background or credit check requirement (540-A:3, VIII). On receiving a deposit, give the receipt and the 5-day repair-list notice (540-A:6, I). If the property changes owners, notify the tenant by registered or certified mail who now holds the deposit (540-A:6, III(b)). For pre-1978 housing, give the federal lead-paint disclosure (40 CFR 745.113). | RSA 540-A:3, VIII; 540-A:6; 40 CFR 745.113 | Verified |
| Fair housing beyond federal law | New Hampshire adds age, gender identity, and marital status. Its ban on discriminatory housing ads also covers sexual orientation. Its other classes match federal law. | RSA 354-A:10 | Verified |
Last verified Oct 2026 · Sources are official state legislature sites. Federal rules also apply.
Tools for New Hampshire landlords
Late fee calculator
Model grace periods and fees.
Open →Prorated rent calculator
Mid-month move-ins.
Open →Rent increase calculator
New rent and annual impact.
Open →General information only. Not legal advice. RentToolkit is not a law firm. Laws and local ordinances change, so check the statute and consult a licensed attorney in your state before acting.