How Big a Deposit Can Be
RSA 540-A:6 — one month's rent or $100, whichever is greater
A landlord may not demand or receive a security deposit of more than one month's rent or $100, whichever is greater.
Who handles this in New Hampshire: legal aid programs, lawyer referral and the state offices, listed in the New Hampshire directory.
On receiving one, the landlord delivers a signed receipt stating the amount and where the deposit is held, unless the tenant paid by check, as the section provides. On request, the landlord gives the bank, account, amount and interest rate.
A landlord who breaks those rules is treated as having committed an unfair or deceptive act under the consumer protection act.
Sources for this section (2)
- RSA 540-A:6 — Procedure
- RSA 540-A:8 — Remedies
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.