New Hampshire rent increase law

A tenant's refusal to agree to a rent increase is good cause for eviction only if you gave written notice of the new amount and its effective date at least 30 days before the increase. The landlord and tenant chapters set no limit on the size of an increase.

RSA 540:2, IV RSA ch. 540

• A rent increase within six months after a tenant's protected complaint, report, action or organizing is presumed retaliatory. RSA 540:13-b See Retaliation on the New Hampshire page

New Hampshire's landlord and tenant chapters contain no rent control and no limit on rent increases, only the 30-day notice. Towns and cities may adopt housing codes setting minimum standards for dwellings. Local ordinances and any other state law on local rent regulation were not read for this page.

RSA 540:2, IV RSA 48-A:2 RSA 48-A:11

• A local housing code that sets a higher standard than state law governs. RSA 48-A:13

Unless the tenant owes one week's rent or more, a tenant may defend an eviction by showing it retaliates for reporting a code or landlord-tenant violation in good faith, starting an action under the prohibited-practices chapter or the fitness defense, or meeting with other tenants for any lawful purpose.

RSA 540:13-a

• An eviction, rent increase or substantial change in the tenancy within six months after you receive notice of the report, finish the repair, learn of the tenant's action, or discover the tenant organizing is presumed retaliatory, unless the tenant's report was mainly meant to prevent an eviction. RSA 540:13-b
• A tenant who proves retaliation may be awarded up to three months' rent in damages. RSA 540:14, II
• After a tenant proves a prohibited practice, you may not bring an eviction within six months except for nonpayment, violation of a substantial lease obligation, or a violation of that chapter, nor take any other reprisal. RSA 540-A:4, XI