Getting the Deposit Back
RSA 540-A:7 — back within 30 days with an itemized list, or twice the deposit
A landlord returns a security deposit, with any interest due, within 30 days after the tenancy ends.
Who handles this in New Hampshire: 603 Legal Aid and New Hampshire Legal Assistance; and legal aid programs, lawyer referral and the state offices, listed in the New Hampshire directory.
- Damage beyond reasonable wear and tear may be deducted, with a written itemized list that describes each repair with particularity and gives satisfactory evidence it has been or will be done, such as receipts or estimates.
- Unpaid rent, a lease share of a real estate tax increase, and other unpaid lawful charges may be deducted, itemized in writing with the period each covers.
Twice the deposit. A landlord who does not comply is liable to the tenant for twice the deposit plus any interest due, less the payments and lawful charges the section allows.
A landlord who holds a deposit for one year or longer pays interest on it at the rate of a regular savings account where it is kept, and a tenant may ask for the accrued interest every 3 years.
Sources for this section (3)
- RSA 540-A:7 — Return of Security Deposit
- RSA 540-A:8 — Remedies
- RSA 540-A:6 — Procedure
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed New Hampshire attorney.