New Hampshire landlord and tenant rules

Seayora publishes 7 New Hampshire rules, covering security deposits, notice periods, tenant protections, contractor sales tax. Every one is composed from the statute it cites and links to that statute on the state’s own code site.

New Hampshire at a glance

RuleNew Hampshire
Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in New Hampshire?Interest required when the deposit is held a year or longer.
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in New Hampshire?30 days
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in New Hampshire?1 month of rent
How many days does a tenant get to pay late rent in New Hampshire?7 days
How much notice must a landlord give to end a tenancy in New Hampshire?30 days
Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant for complaining in New Hampshire?Presumed within 6 months
Do contractors charge sales tax in New Hampshire?No sales tax

Security deposits in New Hampshire

Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in New Hampshire?

Yes. New Hampshire requires a landlord to pay the tenant interest on a security deposit. Interest required when the deposit is held a year or longer. The deposit itself must be returned within 30 days of the end of the tenancy. This is RSA 540-A:6–7.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in New Hampshire?

In New Hampshire, a landlord has 30 days after the tenancy ends to return the security deposit, together with an itemised statement of any deductions. New Hampshire also requires interest to be paid on the deposit: Interest required when the deposit is held a year or longer. This is RSA 540-A:6–7.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in New Hampshire?

In New Hampshire, a security deposit is capped at 1 month of rent. One month's rent or $100, whichever is greater. This is RSA 540-A:6–7.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

Notice periods in New Hampshire

How many days does a tenant get to pay late rent in New Hampshire?

In New Hampshire, a landlord must give 7 days written notice before starting a nonpayment case. This is N.H. Rev. Stat. §§ 540:2, 540:3, 540:9.

A residential eviction notice is 30 days, or seven days where the ground is nonpayment of rent after a demand. On "restricted property" — most rental housing — a landlord may end a tenancy only for a reason listed in RSA 540:2, II, and a tenant's refusal of a rent increase counts only if written notice of it was given at least 30 days before it took effect. A nonpayment notice must tell the tenant of any right to avoid the eviction by paying the arrears and liquidated damages under RSA 540:9. No entry-notice period is published here.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

How much notice must a landlord give to end a tenancy in New Hampshire?

In New Hampshire, a landlord must give 30 days written notice to end a tenancy or decline to renew it. On "restricted property" — most rental housing — a landlord may end a tenancy only for one of the reasons in RSA 540:2, II. This is N.H. Rev. Stat. §§ 540:2, 540:3, 540:9.

A residential eviction notice is 30 days, or seven days where the ground is nonpayment of rent after a demand. On "restricted property" — most rental housing — a landlord may end a tenancy only for a reason listed in RSA 540:2, II, and a tenant's refusal of a rent increase counts only if written notice of it was given at least 30 days before it took effect. A nonpayment notice must tell the tenant of any right to avoid the eviction by paying the arrears and liquidated damages under RSA 540:9. No entry-notice period is published here.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

Tenant protections in New Hampshire

Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant for complaining in New Hampshire?

No. In New Hampshire, retaliation for reporting a code violation, starting a case over utility shutoffs or lockouts, or meeting with other tenants is a defense to an eviction, and an eviction, rent increase or substantial change within six months after the landlord learns of the report or action is presumed retaliatory. The defense is not available to a tenant who owes a week’s rent or more. Separately, the federal Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful to threaten or interfere with anyone for exercising fair housing rights. This is RSA 540:13-a, 540:13-b.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

Contractor sales tax in New Hampshire

Do contractors charge sales tax in New Hampshire?

New Hampshire imposes no state sales tax, so there is no state sales tax to add to a contractor's invoice. Source: New Hampshire imposes no general sales tax.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

Sources

  • N.H. Rev. Stat. §§ 540:2, 540:3, 540:9
  • New Hampshire imposes no general sales tax.
  • RSA 540-A:6–7
  • RSA 540:13-a, 540:13-b

This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.

This is a summary of a state’s published guidance, not tax or legal advice. Rates and rules change, local jurisdictions add their own, and the treatment of a specific job depends on the contract and the work. Check the citation and speak to a CPA or a state tax adviser before relying on it.

How Seayora uses these rules

Security deposits. Seayora computes the deadline this rule sets from the tenancy’s own dates, shows it on the deposit statement, and reminds the landlord before it falls due — so the answer above is not reference material sitting beside the product, it is the rule the product enforces.

Notice periods. Seayora computes the notice this rule requires from the tenancy’s own dates — for a renewal offer, a rent increase or a served notice — and will not serve one that is short unless the owner records a reason. The answer above is the rule the product enforces.

Tenant protections. When an owner prepares an eviction in Seayora, it lists any repair request opened on the unit in the last 180 days that is still open, not to stop the case but because the tenant will raise retaliation and the owner should have an answer. Every repair request keeps the date it was filed.

Contractor sales tax. Seayora resolves this rule on every invoice a contractor raises — per line, from the job site’s own address — and prints the rate, the jurisdiction and this citation on the document itself, so the estimate a customer accepts is the invoice they are billed. Where the rule is more nuanced than a single answer, Seayora refuses to guess a total rather than quoting a confident wrong one.

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