New Hampshire Security Deposit Demand Letter
Direct answer
In New Hampshire, the landlord must return the deposit within 30 calendar days. The deadline is measured from this trigger: From the termination of the tenancy. The verified state formula is landlord who does not comply with interest rules (540-A:6, IV) or return rules (540-A:7) is liable for twice the sum of the security deposit plus any interest due, less payments made and charges owing for damages, unpaid rent, or share of real estate taxes; noncompliance with collection/escrow/transfer rules is also a RSA 358-A:2 consumer-protection violation under N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 540-A:6 to 540-A:8.
Key facts
| Deadline | 30 calendar days |
|---|---|
| Deadline trigger | from the termination of the tenancy |
| Penalty formula | landlord who does not comply with interest rules (540-A:6, IV) or return rules (540-A:7) is liable for twice the sum of the security deposit plus any interest due, less payments made and charges owing for damages, unpaid rent, or share of real estate taxes; noncompliance with collection/escrow/transfer rules is also a RSA 358-A:2 consumer-protection violation |
| Bad faith required | No |
| Itemization required | Yes |
| Interest on deposit | Conditional: If the landlord holds the deposit for one year or longer, interest must be paid at the rate paid on regular savings accounts at the NH bank, savings and loan, or credit union where deposited (or proportionate actual interest if deposits are mingled). Tenant may request accrued interest every 3 years, 30 days before that year's tenancy expires; landlord must comply within 15 days of that year's expiration. |
| Maximum deposit | Not more than one month's rent or $100, whichever is greater. Security deposit means all funds in excess of monthly rent transferred for any purpose. Quarterly (or less frequent) rent payment leases allowed, but deposit still cannot exceed one month's rent equivalent. |
| Forwarding address required | No |
| Small claims limit | $10,000 (Circuit Court District Division small claims) in Circuit Court (District Division) small claims |
| Statute citation | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 540-A:6 to 540-A:8 |
Statute says
Except as provided in RSA 540-A:6, IV(c), a landlord shall return a security deposit to a tenant and pay the interest due, if any, within 30 days from the termination of the tenancy. If there are any damages to the premises, excluding reasonable wear and tear, the landlord may deduct the costs of repair from the security deposit. The landlord shall provide the tenant with a written, itemized list of any damages for which the landlord claims the tenant is liable, which shall indicate with particularity the nature of any repair necessary to correct any damage and satisfactory evidence that repair necessary to correct these damages has been or will be completed.
What this means
Read the deadline, trigger, and penalty together before sending a letter. Match the dates in your documents to the trigger listed above, then cite N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 540-A:6 to 540-A:8 and request the deposit amount supported by your records.
Worked example
Use your actual deposit amount when you write the letter. For context, median rent in New Hampshire is $1,491 according to U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates data as of .
- Hillsborough County: $1,623
- Rockingham County: $1,687
- Merrimack County: $1,360
- Strafford County: $1,488
Example demand basis: a deposit equal to the state median rent starts at $1,491 before applying the state formula: landlord who does not comply with interest rules (540-A:6, IV) or return rules (540-A:7) is liable for twice the sum of the security deposit plus any interest due, less payments made and charges owing for damages, unpaid rent, or share of real estate taxes; noncompliance with collection/escrow/transfer rules is also a RSA 358-A:2 consumer-protection violation.
County small claims courts
| County | Court and city | Limit | Filing fee | E-filing | Court link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsborough | Manchester District Division, Manchester | $10,000 | Statewide filing fee: Confirm current filing and service fees with the circuit court clerk. | Not verified | Official court website Court page check not recorded |
| Rockingham | Rockingham District Division, Brentwood | $10,000 | Statewide filing fee: Confirm current filing and service fees with the circuit court clerk. | Not verified | Official court website Court page check not recorded |
| Merrimack | Concord District Division, Concord | $10,000 | Statewide filing fee: Confirm current filing and service fees with the circuit court clerk. | Not verified | Official court website Court page check not recorded |
See all 15 county small claims courts and filing fees
Free New Hampshire template, built from verified state data
I rented [rental property address] from [lease start date] to [move-out date]. I paid a security deposit of $[amount]. I returned the keys on [date] and gave you my forwarding address in writing on [date]. Under New Hampshire law (N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 540-A:6 to 540-A:8), a landlord must return the deposit or send a written, itemized list of deductions within 30 calendar days from the termination of the tenancy.
Before you send
- Collect your lease, deposit receipt, and move-in records.
- Save photos, videos, and messages about move-out condition.
- Write down the move-out date you can prove.
- Confirm the forwarding address you gave the landlord.
- Send by certified mail when appropriate, and keep a copy of the final letter and delivery proof.
Typical mistakes
- Sending a letter before organizing the documents that prove the timeline.
- Demanding an amount that does not match the payment records.
- Leaving out the forwarding address or preferred response method.
- Mixing repair complaints into a deposit letter without separating the issues.
FAQ
Does Manchester have its own security deposit law?
No separate city security-deposit ordinance is listed in the verified data. Check the applicable New Hampshire law.
Does Nashua have its own security deposit law?
No separate city security-deposit ordinance is listed in the verified data. Check the applicable New Hampshire law.
Does Concord have its own security deposit law?
No separate city security-deposit ordinance is listed in the verified data. Check the applicable New Hampshire law.
Does Dover have its own security deposit law?
No separate city security-deposit ordinance is listed in the verified data. Check the applicable New Hampshire law.
What is the small claims limit in New Hampshire?
See the applicable court limits and jurisdictions in the state court guide. New Hampshire small claims courts and filing fees
Can I use this if I do not know the exact deposit amount?
Use the amount shown in your lease, receipt, or move-in records. If records conflict, keep copies and avoid guessing in the letter.
Should I send evidence with the first letter?
Attach copies when they prove the basic facts, such as payment, move-out condition, forwarding address, or prior messages.
Can this page replace legal advice?
No. This page is self-help information for organizing a demand letter and checking the cited data before you act.
City data on this page currently includes Manchester, Nashua, Concord, Dover, Rochester, Keene, Portsmouth, Laconia.
When this letter will NOT work
- The dispute is not about return of a security deposit.
- You need urgent court relief instead of a demand letter.
- You cannot identify the landlord or property manager to contact.
- Your documents point to a different state or a different kind of claim.
Tenant resources
- 603 Legal Aidlegal aid in Concord, 800-639-5290
- New Hampshire Legal Assistancelegal aid, 800-562-3174
- New Hampshire Department of Justice Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureauag consumer, 603-271-3641
- New Hampshire Judicial Branch Self-Helpcourt self help