New Hampshire Eviction Laws

New Hampshire notice periods for ending a tenancy and starting an eviction, each as LeaseCraft read it in the statute at the official source, with its citation and read date (most recently ).

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New Hampshire notice periods

Periods are as the statute states them: some are minimums, some apply unless the lease sets another. "Lease controls" means there is no statutory period; "No pre-suit notice" means none is required before filing.

SituationNotice periodSource
Unpaid rent 7 days RSA 540:3 II, III, IV; RSA 540:2 II(a); RSA 540:5; RSA 540:9
Read
Lease violation 30 days RSA 540:3 II; RSA 540:2 II(c), II(e), V
Read
Ending the tenancy without a chance to cure 7 days RSA 540:3 II; RSA 540:2 II(b), II(d)
Read
Ending a month-to-month tenancy 30 days RSA 540:2 I, II; RSA 540:3 II; RSA 540:1-a
Read
Tenant staying after the lease ends Secondary sources only
Not verified at the official source; LeaseCraft states no figure.
 RSA 540:2 II(i), VIII (2025, 263:1, 2, eff. July 1, 2026)
Ending a week-to-week tenancy 30 days RSA 540:3 II
Read

What the New Hampshire statute says

Unpaid rent 7 days
  • Ground: neglect or refusal to pay rent due and in arrears, upon demand (RSA 540:2 II(a)); a written demand for rent is served with or before the eviction notice (RSA 540:5).
  • Eviction notice must be in writing, state the reason with specificity, and — for nonpayment — inform the tenant of the right, if any, to avoid eviction by paying the arrearages plus $15 liquidated damages under RSA 540:9 (payment allowed any time prior to the hearing on the merits; not more than 3 times in 12 months).
  • Notice must contain the same information as the judicial branch Demand for Rent / Eviction Notice forms (RSA 540:5 II).
Lease violation 30 days
  • Failure of the tenant to comply with a material term of the lease (RSA 540:2 II(c)) and 'other good cause' (II(e)) require 30 days' written notice stating the reason with specificity.
  • Where 'other good cause' is based on the tenant's actions or inactions, the landlord must first give a written warning notice that such conduct would in future constitute grounds for eviction (RSA 540:2 V).
Ending the tenancy without a chance to cure 7 days
  • Substantial damage to the premises by the tenant, household members or guests (RSA 540:2 II(b)).
  • Behavior of the tenant or family members which adversely affects the health or safety of other tenants or the landlord (RSA 540:2 II(d)).
Ending a month-to-month tenancy 30 days
  • Nonrestricted property (single-family house where owner owns no more than 3; unit in owner-occupied building of 4 or fewer units; foreclosed single-family houses held by mortgagees; nonresidential): landlord may terminate any tenancy by 30 days' written notice to quit without stating a cause beyond the notice requirements (RSA 540:2 I; 540:3 II).
  • Restricted property (all other residential rentals): termination only for the good-cause grounds in RSA 540:2 II; 30 days' notice (7 days for II(a), (b), (d)).
  • From 2026-07-01: for a lease with an original term of 12 months or longer (or renewed to a total of 12+ months), expiration of the term is a ground if the landlord gave written notice at least 60 days before the end of the term that the lease will not be renewed and files a possessory action within 6 months (RSA 540:2 II(i), 2025 ch. 263).

Exceptions

  • Nonrestricted property is exempt from the good-cause requirement (RSA 540:1-a).
Ending a week-to-week tenancy 30 days
  • RSA 540:3 II sets 30 days for 'all residential tenancies' regardless of rental period (7 days only for the II(a), (b), (d) grounds).

Just cause, delivery, form and local rules in New Hampshire

How the notice may be delivered

A demand for rent or eviction notice may be served by any person, upon the tenant personally or left at the tenant's last and usual place of abode; proof of service is a true and attested copy of the notice with an affidavit of service (which need not be sworn under oath); commercial tenants also get a copy by certified mail (RSA 540:5 I).

RSA 540:5 I · read

Required form or contents

Judicial Branch forms exist (Circuit Court District Division 'Demand for Rent' and 'Eviction Notice', form NHJB-3041-D per a third-party copy); their use is not mandatory but RSA 540:5 II requires a valid demand for rent or eviction notice to include the same information as is requested and provided on those forms, and RSA 540:3 III–IV require the reason stated with specificity and, for nonpayment, the RSA 540:9 cure statement. https://www.courts.nh.gov/our-courts/circuit-court/district-division/landlordtenant

RSA 540:5 II; RSA 540:3 III, IV · read

Statewide just-cause rule

Yes: a statewide law requires a stated legal reason to end some tenancies

  • Covered housing: 'restricted property' = all real property rented for residential purposes except nonrestricted property; landlord may terminate only for RSA 540:2 II grounds: nonpayment upon demand, substantial damage, failure to comply with a material lease term, health/safety-affecting behavior, other good cause (incl. legitimate business/economic reasons), lead-hazard abatement, willful failure to prepare for infestation remediation, DV-perpetrator cotenant, and (from 2026-07-01) expiration of a 12+ month lease on 60 days' notice.

RSA 540:2 II; RSA 540:1-a; 2025 N.H. Laws ch. 263 (HB 60) · read

For New Hampshire landlords

  • Find the period for your situation in the table above and count it from the day the notice is delivered.
  • Deliver the notice the way New Hampshire law allows and keep a record of how and when.
  • A notice is not a court order and does not by itself remove a tenant.

For New Hampshire tenants

  • Compare the notice you received with the period for its situation in the table above and the date it reached you.
  • A notice is not a court order. If a case is filed, the court papers say how and by when to respond.
  • Local legal aid and tenant organizations can explain your options.

How an eviction generally proceeds

A general outline, not New Hampshire law: the steps, their names and their deadlines differ by state and court. The New Hampshire rules LeaseCraft has verified are the ones above.

  1. Written notice. The landlord gives the notice the situation calls for and waits out its period.
  2. Court filing. If the tenant has not paid, cured or left, the landlord files an eviction case in court.
  3. Hearing. Both sides can be heard; the tenant may raise defenses such as an improper notice.
  4. Judgment. The court decides who has the right to the property.
  5. Removal. If the court rules for the landlord, removal follows its order. A notice is not a court order and does not by itself remove a tenant.

New Hampshire eviction questions

  • 7 days, under RSA 540:3 II, III, IV; RSA 540:2 II(a); RSA 540:5; RSA 540:9. Ground: neglect or refusal to pay rent due and in arrears, upon demand (RSA 540:2 II(a)); a written demand for rent is served with or before the eviction notice (RSA 540:5). LeaseCraft read this at the official source on 2026-09-27.

  • 30 days, under RSA 540:3 II; RSA 540:2 II(c), II(e), V. Failure of the tenant to comply with a material term of the lease (RSA 540:2 II(c)) and 'other good cause' (II(e)) require 30 days' written notice stating the reason with specificity. LeaseCraft read this at the official source on 2026-09-27.

  • 30 days, under RSA 540:2 I, II; RSA 540:3 II; RSA 540:1-a. Nonrestricted property (single-family house where owner owns no more than 3; unit in owner-occupied building of 4 or fewer units; foreclosed single-family houses held by mortgagees; nonresidential): landlord may terminate any tenancy by 30 days' written notice to quit without stating a cause beyond the notice requirements (RSA 540:2 I; 540:3 II). LeaseCraft read this at the official source on 2026-09-27.

  • A demand for rent or eviction notice may be served by any person, upon the tenant personally or left at the tenant's last and usual place of abode; proof of service is a true and attested copy of the notice with an affidavit of service (which need not be sworn under oath); commercial tenants also get a copy by certified mail (RSA 540:5 I). Source: RSA 540:5 I. LeaseCraft read this at the official source on 2026-09-27.

  • Yes: a statewide law requires a stated legal reason to end some tenancies, under RSA 540:2 II; RSA 540:1-a; 2025 N.H. Laws ch. 263 (HB 60). Covered housing: 'restricted property' = all real property rented for residential purposes except nonrestricted property; landlord may terminate only for RSA 540:2 II grounds: nonpayment upon demand, substantial damage, failure to comply with a material lease term, health/safety-affecting behavior, other good cause (incl. legitimate business/economic reasons), lead-hazard abatement, willful failure to prepare for infestation remediation, DV-perpetrator cotenant, and (from 2026-07-01) expiration of a 12+ month lease on 60 days' notice. LeaseCraft read this at the official source on 2026-09-27.

  • 30 days, under RSA 540:3 II. RSA 540:3 II sets 30 days for 'all residential tenancies' regardless of rental period (7 days only for the II(a), (b), (d) grounds). LeaseCraft read this at the official source on 2026-09-27.

Related New Hampshire landlord-tenant guides

New Hampshire security deposit laws New Hampshire landlord-tenant law Eviction guides for every state

Cities and counties can add rules. LeaseCraft is not a law firm and this is not legal advice.