Security deposits in New Hampshire
New Hampshire sets its own rules for security deposits under N.H. RSA 540-A:7. Below is what that statute requires, verified against the primary source, plus the steps to take and where to read the law yourself.
The New Hampshire statute
A landlord must return the security deposit and pay any interest due within 30 days from the termination of the tenancy (RSA 540-A:7, I). Damage beyond reasonable wear and tear may be deducted only with a written, itemized list stating with particularity the repair needed and satisfactory evidence — receipts, labor estimates, bills or invoices — that it has been or will be done. The deposit itself may not exceed one month’s rent or $100, whichever is greater (RSA 540-A:6, I(a)). The exception RSA 540-A:7 refers to (RSA 540-A:6, IV(c)) governs a tenant’s request for accrued INTEREST every three years, not the return deadline. Verified against primary statute text (gencourt.state.nh.us) 2026-08-27.
Read the New Hampshire source text →How security deposit law works
Every state sets its own rules for security deposits — how much a landlord can collect, where the money must be held, what it can be spent on, and the deadline for returning it after you move out. Missing that deadline, or making deductions the statute doesn’t allow, often exposes the landlord to penalties that can multiply what they owe you.
Read the full security deposit law guide →
What to do in New Hampshire, in order
- In New Hampshire: document the unit on move-out day: video every room, appliance, and wall.
- Send your forwarding address in writing — several statutes start or extend the clock from this.
- Count the days. If the statutory deadline passes with no deposit and no itemized statement, send a demand letter citing the statute below.
- If the landlord still doesn’t pay, small claims court handles deposit cases cheaply and quickly — and statutory penalties often apply.
Common questions about security deposits in New Hampshire
What counts as normal wear and tear in New Hampshire?
Deterioration from ordinary living: faded paint, minor scuffs, carpet worn by foot traffic, small nail holes. Damage — stains, burns, broken fixtures, holes in walls — is deductible. The line is drawn by state case law, but "would this happen to any careful tenant over the same period?" is the test courts effectively apply.
Can my landlord keep the deposit for cleaning in New Hampshire?
Only to return the unit to the cleanliness it had at move-in, and in many states only if the lease says so. Routine turnover cleaning between tenants is generally the landlord’s cost of doing business.
What if I never got an itemized list of deductions in New Hampshire?
In most states an itemized written statement within the statutory window is a condition of keeping ANY of the deposit. No list, late list, or a list without real itemization is frequently a full-refund case — sometimes with penalties.
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