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Landlord Retaliation Laws in New Hampshire

New Hampshire gives tenants a retaliation defense to eviction and presumes retaliation for an eviction, rent increase or major lease change within 6 months after a protected report, action or tenant meeting.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

New Hampshire at a glance

Retaliation banned by statute
Yes, as an eviction defense
The defense is not available if the tenant owes 1 week's rent or more.
Presumption period
6 months
The 6 months run from events such as the landlord receiving notice of the complaint or completing repairs. No presumption if the complaint was mainly meant to prevent an eviction.
Protected tenant actions
Code or habitability reports, legal action, tenant meetings
Covers reports to the landlord or an inspection agency, actions under RSA 540-A or RSA 540:13-d, and meeting with other tenants for a lawful purpose.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in New Hampshire

Does New Hampshire law prohibit landlord retaliation against tenants?

Yes, as an eviction defense. Retaliation banned by statute in New Hampshire: yes, as an eviction defense. The defense is not available if the tenant owes 1 week's rent or more.

How long after a tenant complaint is retaliation presumed in New Hampshire?

Presumption period in New Hampshire: 6 months. The 6 months run from events such as the landlord receiving notice of the complaint or completing repairs. No presumption if the complaint was mainly meant to prevent an eviction.

Which tenant actions are protected from retaliation in New Hampshire?

Protected tenant actions in New Hampshire: Code or habitability reports, legal action, tenant meetings. Covers reports to the landlord or an inspection agency, actions under RSA 540-A or RSA 540:13-d, and meeting with other tenants for a lawful purpose.

Where do the New Hampshire landlord retaliation laws come from?

The rules above come from N.H. Rev. Stat. 540:13-a and N.H. Rev. Stat. 540:13-b. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

What this means in practice

Keep a written record of every complaint, repair request and report to a government agency, with dates. A presumption period usually runs from the date of the protected action, so proof of that date can matter.

Retaliation protection does not usually excuse unpaid rent or lease violations. Statutes commonly allow a landlord to raise rent, end a tenancy or evict for a good-faith reason, such as nonpayment, damage to the unit or a rent increase applied to all tenants.

If a rent increase, service cut or eviction notice follows a complaint, read the statute for your state and any local ordinance. Cities and counties may add protections, and a local legal aid office or tenant union can explain how they apply.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.