New Hampshire · Evictions · Updated Oct 2026

New Hampshire eviction rules for tenants

The notices a landlord in New Hampshire must give, how long you have to respond in court, why a lockout is illegal and where to get free legal help fast.

Short answer

For unpaid rent the landlord must give you a written demand for the rent and a written eviction notice of at least 7 days (RSA 540:2, II(a); RSA 540:3, II).

Notice for unpaid rent: 7 days
Time to respond in court: File an 'Appearance' form with the court by the return day printed on the Landlord and Tenant Writ (the return day is not the hearing date).
Lockouts: Banned

We could not confirm all of New Hampshire's rules yet. Some facts on this page rest on limited sources. Check the official sources below, or ask legal aid, before you rely on them.

If you get an eviction notice

Read it closely: the kind of notice, the amount, the dates and how it was delivered. Use the timeline below.
Don't move out or stop paying because of a notice alone. Only a court can order an eviction; the notice is the first step.
Get free legal help now. Legal aid and the court's self-help center can check whether the notice is valid.
If you are served with court papers, respond by the deadline and go to every hearing. Missing one can mean losing by default.
Keep copies of the notice, your lease, rent receipts, texts and photos.

Eviction in New Hampshire

Notice for unpaid rent: For unpaid rent the landlord must give you a written demand for the rent and a written eviction notice of at least 7 days (RSA 540:2, II(a); RSA 540:3, II). The notice must state the reason specifically and, for nonpayment, tell you of your right to stop the eviction by paying. Even after the case is filed, a nonpayment case must be dismissed if, before the hearing on the merits, you pay all rent owed through that date plus other lawful charges in the lease, $15 in liquidated damages, and the landlord's filing and service fees; you can do this no more than 3 times in 12 months (RSA 540:9). In most cases the landlord also needs one of the legal grounds ('good cause') listed in RSA 540:2.
Notice for a lease violation: Substantial damage to the unit, or behavior by you or your guests that adversely affects others' health or safety: 7-day eviction notice. Failure to follow a material lease term, or other good cause (including refusing a valid rent increase): 30-day eviction notice. RSA 540:2, II; RSA 540:3, II. Most tenants can be evicted only for these listed reasons.
Ending a month-to-month tenancy: Tenant: 30 days' notice that ends on a rent due date. Landlord: a written eviction notice stating good cause; 30 days for 'other good cause' (no-fault) reasons. Owner-occupied buildings and some single-family homes may have fewer protections. (603 Legal Aid.)
Time to respond to an eviction lawsuit: File an 'Appearance' form with the court by the return day printed on the Landlord and Tenant Writ (the return day is not the hearing date). If you miss it, you are in default and can be removed within days. The hearing is usually 6 to 10 days after you file. If you lose, the writ of possession cannot issue for at least 8 days, and the judge may give up to 90 more days to move. (603 Legal Aid.)
Lockouts and utility shutoffs: Yes. The landlord may not lock you out, shut off utilities, remove your belongings, enter without permission, or otherwise force you out without a court order. File an RSA 540-A petition at your district court (no lawyer or filing fee needed); you can get a same-day temporary order in an emergency. A violation brings the remedies of the Consumer Protection Act (RSA 358-A:10): your actual damages or $1,000, whichever is more, doubled or tripled if willful or knowing, plus costs and attorney fees; each day the violation continues after a temporary order counts as a separate violation. RSA 540-A:2 to 540-A:4.
Court self-help: The court's eviction self-help page
Law: RSA 540:2, 540:3, 540:9, 540:13; RSA 540-A:2 to 540-A:4

Eviction notice timeline for New Hampshire

Got a notice from your landlord? Enter the kind of notice and the day you got it to see the dates that follow from your state's rule, what your landlord may not do, and where to get free help fast.

This is not legal advice. Eviction deadlines are short and missing one can cost you your home. Read your notice carefully and contact legal aid or your court's self-help center right away.

Where to get free help in New Hampshire

Retaliation in New Hampshire

You cannot be evicted in retaliation for reporting a code violation to the landlord or a public official, or for exercising other legal rights such as joining a tenants' organization. If an eviction starts within six months after such an action, it is presumed retaliatory unless the landlord shows another good reason (for example, more than one week's rent unpaid). RSA 540:13-a, 540:13-b (as described by 603 Legal Aid).

Rent increases and rent control in New Hampshire

Notice of a rent increase: If you have no written lease, at least 30 days' written notice of a rent increase or other significant change. During a lease, rent can be raised only if the lease allows it. An increase without proper written notice cannot be enforced, and you cannot be evicted for not paying it. (603 Legal Aid.)
Rent control: No statewide rent control and no limit on the amount of an increase.

Questions about eviction in New Hampshire

How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in New Hampshire?

For unpaid rent the landlord must give you a written demand for the rent and a written eviction notice of at least 7 days (RSA 540:2, II(a); RSA 540:3, II). The notice must state the reason specifically and, for nonpayment, tell you of your right to stop the eviction by paying. Even after the case is filed, a nonpayment case must be dismissed if, before the hearing on the merits, you pay all rent owed through that date plus other lawful charges in the lease, $15 in liquidated damages, and the landlord's filing and service fees; you can do this no more than 3 times in 12 months (RSA 540:9). In most cases the landlord also needs one of the legal grounds ('good cause') listed in RSA 540:2.

How much notice for a lease violation in New Hampshire?

Substantial damage to the unit, or behavior by you or your guests that adversely affects others' health or safety: 7-day eviction notice. Failure to follow a material lease term, or other good cause (including refusing a valid rent increase): 30-day eviction notice. RSA 540:2, II; RSA 540:3, II. Most tenants can be evicted only for these listed reasons.

How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month lease in New Hampshire?

Tenant: 30 days' notice that ends on a rent due date. Landlord: a written eviction notice stating good cause; 30 days for 'other good cause' (no-fault) reasons. Owner-occupied buildings and some single-family homes may have fewer protections. (603 Legal Aid.)

How long do I have to respond to an eviction lawsuit in New Hampshire?

File an 'Appearance' form with the court by the return day printed on the Landlord and Tenant Writ (the return day is not the hearing date). If you miss it, you are in default and can be removed within days. The hearing is usually 6 to 10 days after you file. If you lose, the writ of possession cannot issue for at least 8 days, and the judge may give up to 90 more days to move. (603 Legal Aid.)

Can my landlord lock me out or shut off utilities in New Hampshire?

Yes. The landlord may not lock you out, shut off utilities, remove your belongings, enter without permission, or otherwise force you out without a court order. File an RSA 540-A petition at your district court (no lawyer or filing fee needed); you can get a same-day temporary order in an emergency. A violation brings the remedies of the Consumer Protection Act (RSA 358-A:10): your actual damages or $1,000, whichever is more, doubled or tripled if willful or knowing, plus costs and attorney fees; each day the violation continues after a temporary order counts as a separate violation. RSA 540-A:2 to 540-A:4.

More for New Hampshire renters

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Sources

Last checked: Oct 2026.