Landlord tools · New Hampshire

New Hampshire residential lease agreement.

Everything a New Hampshire lease must get right in 2026 — deposit limits, late fees, notice periods, and required disclosures — plus a free builder that applies each rule for you and outputs a signable PDF.

1 monthSecurity deposit cap
30 daysDeposit return deadline
ReasonableEntry notice required
30 daysTo end month-to-month

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Security deposits in New Hampshire

New Hampshire caps security deposits at 1 month of rent. Greater of 1 month or $100; small owner-occupied exemptions After the tenancy ends, the deposit must be returned within 30 days. With itemized deductions; interest owed if held 1+ year Returning one now? Use the free New Hampshire deposit return letter generator — it computes the deadline and itemizes deductions for you.

Late fees and grace periods

New Hampshire sets no statutory dollar cap on late fees, but courts require them to be reasonable and they must appear in the written lease. No grace period is required by statute, though many leases include one. No statutory cap; must be reasonable and in lease. No statutory grace period.

Landlord entry and notices

New Hampshire has no fixed entry-notice statute — reasonable notice is the standard, and the lease should spell it out. Notice 'adequate under the circumstances'; no fixed hours. Ending a month-to-month tenancy takes 30 days' written notice (30 days' notice, but good cause required in most rentals). Rent increases require 30 days' advance notice (30 days' written notice; refusal of increase is good cause to evict). Planning an increase? The free New Hampshire rent increase notice generator applies the notice period automatically.

Required disclosures in a New Hampshire lease

Clauses you can’t put in a New Hampshire lease

Utilities and pets

Utilities: No specific statute; lease should allocate utilities. Pets: No statutory pet deposit rules; total deposit still capped.

Frequently asked questions

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

New Hampshire caps security deposits at 1 month of rent. Greater of 1 month or $100; small owner-occupied exemptions

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

30 days after the tenancy ends. With itemized deductions; interest owed if held 1+ year

Are late fees limited in New Hampshire?

There's no statutory dollar cap, but fees must be reasonable and stated in the lease. No statutory cap; must be reasonable and in lease. No statutory grace period

How much notice before a landlord can enter the unit in New Hampshire?

New Hampshire has no fixed statutory period — reasonable notice applies. Notice 'adequate under the circumstances'; no fixed hours

Does New Hampshire have rent control?

No statewide rent control. No rent control; no cap on increase amounts

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Key statutes: RSA 540-A:6 · RSA 540-A:7 · RSA 540:2 · RSA 540:3. Last reviewed 2026-07. This guide summarizes state law for convenience and is not legal advice; cities and counties may add their own rules.

Lease laws in other states