Home · Landlord-tenant rules · New Hampshire
Deposit, notice, and late-fee figures cited to the state statute.
| Rule | Rule text |
|---|---|
| Security deposit cap | A landlord shall not demand or receive a security deposit in an amount or value in excess of one month's rent or $100, whichever is greater. If a written lease requires rent to be paid quarterly or less often, the security deposit received in addition to the initial rent payment may not exceed the equivalent of one month's rent. N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 540-A:6. As of 2026-10-09. |
| Deposit return deadline | Except as provided in RSA 540-A:6, IV(c), a landlord shall return a security deposit and pay any interest due within 30 days from the termination of the tenancy. The landlord may deduct the cost of repairing damages, excluding reasonable wear and tear, and shall provide a written itemized list of those damages. N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 540-A:7. As of 2026-10-09. |
| Notice for a rent increase | A tenant's refusal to agree to a rent increase is good cause for eviction under RSA 540:2, II(e), if the landlord gave written notice of the amount and effective date at least 30 days before the increase takes effect. N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 540:2. As of 2026-10-09. |
| Notice to end a tenancy | For all residential tenancies, 30 days' notice shall be sufficient in all cases, and 7 days' notice shall be sufficient if the reason for termination is set forth in RSA 540:2, II(a), (b), (d), or (h). N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 540:3. As of 2026-10-09. |
| Notice before entry | No landlord shall willfully enter into the premises of the tenant without prior consent, other than to make emergency repairs. N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 540-A:3. As of 2026-10-09. |
| Eviction notice | For all residential tenancies, 30 days' notice shall be sufficient in all cases, and 7 days' notice shall be sufficient if the reason for termination is set forth in RSA 540:2, II(a), (b), (d), or (h). The eviction notice shall state with specificity the reason for the eviction. N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 540:3. As of 2026-10-09. |
A landlord shall not demand or receive a security deposit in an amount or value in excess of one month's rent or $100, whichever is greater. If a written lease requires rent to be paid quarterly or less often, the security deposit received in addition to the initial rent payment may not exceed the equivalent of one month's rent.
Except as provided in RSA 540-A:6, IV(c), a landlord shall return a security deposit and pay any interest due within 30 days from the termination of the tenancy. The landlord may deduct the cost of repairing damages, excluding reasonable wear and tear, and shall provide a written itemized list of those damages.
For all residential tenancies, 30 days' notice shall be sufficient in all cases, and 7 days' notice shall be sufficient if the reason for termination is set forth in RSA 540:2, II(a), (b), (d), or (h). The eviction notice shall state with specificity the reason for the eviction.
Figures are from New Hampshire statutes, retrieved 2026-10-09. Primary sources: https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/LV/540-A/540-A-6.htm, https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/LV/540-A/540-A-7.htm, https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/LV/540/540-2.htm, https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/LV/540/540-3.htm, https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/LV/540-A/540-A-3.htm.
A landlord shall not demand or receive a security deposit in an amount or value in excess of one month's rent or $100, whichever is greater. If a written lease requires rent to be paid quarterly or less often, the security deposit received in addition to the initial rent payment may not exceed the equivalent of one month's rent. Source: N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 540-A:6, https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/LV/540-A/540-A-6.htm, as of 2026-10-09.
Except as provided in RSA 540-A:6, IV(c), a landlord shall return a security deposit and pay any interest due within 30 days from the termination of the tenancy. The landlord may deduct the cost of repairing damages, excluding reasonable wear and tear, and shall provide a written itemized list of those damages. Source: N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 540-A:7, https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/LV/540-A/540-A-7.htm, as of 2026-10-09.
A tenant's refusal to agree to a rent increase is good cause for eviction under RSA 540:2, II(e), if the landlord gave written notice of the amount and effective date at least 30 days before the increase takes effect. Source: N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 540:2, https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/LV/540/540-2.htm, as of 2026-10-09.
For all residential tenancies, 30 days' notice shall be sufficient in all cases, and 7 days' notice shall be sufficient if the reason for termination is set forth in RSA 540:2, II(a), (b), (d), or (h). Source: N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 540:3, https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/LV/540/540-3.htm, as of 2026-10-09.
No landlord shall willfully enter into the premises of the tenant without prior consent, other than to make emergency repairs. Source: N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 540-A:3, https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/LV/540-A/540-A-3.htm, as of 2026-10-09.
For all residential tenancies, 30 days' notice shall be sufficient in all cases, and 7 days' notice shall be sufficient if the reason for termination is set forth in RSA 540:2, II(a), (b), (d), or (h). The eviction notice shall state with specificity the reason for the eviction. Source: N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 540:3, https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/LV/540/540-3.htm, as of 2026-10-09.
Estimates for planning; not tax/legal advice.