New Hampshire (NH) lease form
New Hampshire residential leases are governed by RSA 540 (landlord-tenant relations) and RSA 540-A (prohibited acts and tenant protections). Landlords must include specific disclosures at signing and avoid clauses the legislature has declared void, or face civil liability and potential court-ordered damages. Getting the lease document right from the start is the lowest-cost compliance step available.
Revun generates a New Hampshire-ready lease with the required disclosures and clauses built in, then handles e-signature, rent, and renewals on the same platform.
Required for all dwellings built before 1978. Landlord must provide the EPA-approved disclosure form, attach any known lead hazard records, and give tenants the "Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home" pamphlet before the lease is signed.
If water testing shows lead levels at or above EPA action levels, landlords must notify tenants in writing and install a certified filtering device on the kitchen faucet at the landlord's expense.
Landlords must provide a signed written receipt stating the deposit amount and the name and location of the financial institution where funds are held, and must notify tenants to report any needed repairs within 5 days of move-in.
Before collecting any application fee, landlords must clearly disclose in writing the fee amount and the specific purpose (criminal background and credit check); any amount exceeding actual costs must be refunded within 30 days.
Upon written request, landlords must disclose the bank name, account number, deposit amount, and current interest rate for any security deposit held more than one year.
General information, not legal advice. Governing statute: RSA 540 (Proceedings Against Tenants) and RSA 540-A (Prohibited Practices). Confirm current requirements or consult an attorney before finalizing a lease.
New Hampshire lease FAQ
New Hampshire landlords must provide a signed security deposit receipt with the deposit location (RSA 540-A:6), an application fee disclosure in writing (RSA 540-A:3, VIII), and a lead-in-water notification if testing exceeds EPA action levels (RSA 540-A:3-a). Leases for pre-1978 properties also require the federal lead-based paint disclosure and EPA pamphlet.
No. RSA 540-A:3(X) explicitly prohibits requiring rent payment solely through electronic funds transfer. The lease must always offer tenants at least one non-electronic payment method such as check or money order.
Under RSA 540, any clause waiving a tenant's statutory rights is null and void. Additionally, self-help eviction provisions, clauses allowing personal property seizure without a court order, and blanket landlord-entry-without-consent terms all violate RSA 540-A and are unenforceable regardless of whether a tenant signed them.
Yes. RSA 540-A:3(V-a) requires landlords to investigate a tenant's pest infestation report within 7 days of notice and take reasonable remediation measures. Failure to do so can support a tenant's claim for a RSA 540-A violation, including damages and attorney fees awarded by the district court.
