New Hampshire Rental Lease Agreement Templates (6)

A New Hampshire lease agreement is the contract that enables a landlord to put the terms and conditions of renting their property in writing.  The contract could detail a standard one-year lease for residential property, a five-year commercial lease, or a rent-to-own contract where the tenant can purchase the property at the end of their tenancy.

Last updated November 29th, 2023

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Rental Application – Completed by a tenant to provide references and authorize background and credit checks.

Lease Agreements: By Type (6)

Standard (1-Year) Residential Lease – Used to rent a residence for a full year, often with the option to renew at the end of the lease term.

 

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Commercial Lease Agreement – Enables a landlord to rent their industrial, retail, office space etc. to a business.

 

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Month-to-Month Lease Agreement – A contract with a month-long term that renews automatically and indefinitely until cancelled by tenant or landlord.

 

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Rent-to-Own Agreement (Lease Option) – A rental agreement that allows a tenant to buy the property at the end of the lease.

 

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Roommate Agreement – A contract used by roommates to establish and sign off on house rules.

 

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Sublease Agreement – This form is used by a tenant to rent out all or part of their unit to a subtenant.

 

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Required Disclosures (3)

  1. Lead-Based Paint Disclosure (PDF) – Landlords renting out property built prior to 1978 must disclose to prospective tenants the possibility of lead-based paint on the premises.[1]
  2. Repair Notice (PDF) – Landlords must notify tenants that any required repairs should be relayed to them in writing within five days of occupancy.[2]
  3. Security Deposit Receipt – The landlord must provide a signed security deposit receipt unless the deposit was made via a personal, bank, or government-issued check.[3]

Security Deposits

Maximum Amount ($) – The most a landlord can charge in NH is one month’s rent or $100, whichever is greater.[4]

Collecting Interest – Landlords are required to pay interest on the security deposit if held beyond one year. The interest rate must be equal to that paid on a regular savings account.[5]

Returning to Tenant – Deposits must be returned to the tenant within 30 days of the lease termination.[6]

Itemized List Required? – Yes, tenants must be provided a list of deductions made on their security deposit when it’s returned to them.

Separate Bank Account? – Yes, deposits must not be mixed with the landlord’s personal bank accounts. However, they may combine all security deposits from all tenants into one bank account.[7]

Landlord’s Entry

General Access – Landlords may enter the premises for any reasonable purpose as long as adequate notice has been provided.[8]

Emergency Access – The landlord does not need the tenant’s permission to enter for emergency repairs.[9]

Rent Payments

Grace Period – No statute.

Maximum Late Fee ($) – No statute.

Bad Check (NSF) Fee – No statute.

Withholding Rent – Yes, a tenant can withhold a rent payment if the dwelling is unsuitable for living due to a landlord’s negligence.[10]

Rent Increase Notice – A 30-day written notice must be given to tenants before increasing rent.[11]

Breaking a Lease

Non-Payment of Rent – A 7-day notice to quit informs tenants that they must pay their rent within seven days or face eviction.[12]

Non-Compliance – A 30-day notice to quit is used to inform a tenant that they must remedy a lease violation within 30 days or move out.[13] For violations causing significant damage or harm, a 7-day notice to quit may be used.

Utility Shutoff – Though not specifically mentioned in statutes, failing to maintain a dwelling’s utilities may be considered a violation of lease terms.[14]

Lockouts – A landlord may change a residence’s locks if abandoned or if they obtain a court-ordered “Writ of Possession,” which is then provided to the sheriff to serve on the tenant.[15]

Leaving Before the End Date – No statute.

Lease Termination

Month-to-Month Tenancy – A 30-day notice to quit is used to end a month-to-month lease agreement.

Unclaimed Property – Landlords must provide the tenant a notice and store their unclaimed personal belongings for seven days after they’ve vacated the premises, after which they may be disposed of.[16]