Free New Hampshire Residential Lease Agreement
Create a residential lease agreement that meets all the requirements necessary in New Hampshire State. Start today with the help of step-by-step instructions and our contract generator.
Templates created by legal professionals
Customize your documents quickly & easily
24/7 free phone & email customer support
Last Update August 28th, 2023
Fill forms in a few steps
Save, print, & download
Done in 5 minutes
What Is a New Hampshire Residential Lease Agreement
A New Hampshire lease agreement outlines the terms under which a landlord agrees to rent a property to a tenant. It should include the duration of the lease, the size, and frequency of rental payments, information about additional costs, and the terms of use of the property.
This legally binding contract should also define which situations constitute lease violations, and what the eviction procedures would be in any of those scenarios. Lease agreements are longer in duration than rental agreements, but they’re otherwise similar in purpose and structure.
Types of New Hampshire Lease Agreements
Before starting a New Hampshire lease agreement, it is important to know which type to create. There are many distinct varieties of these legal instruments, and each deals with a different type of rental situation.
The most common types of lease agreements in New Hampshire include:
Standard residential lease agreements: Under a standard lease agreement both the landlord and tenant commit to a fixed set of terms that last for a series of months or years.
Rent-to-own lease agreements: Lease agreements with rent-to-own options are designed for tenants that wish to buy the property they are renting. This requires them to pay a sum of money each month, in addition to rent, to cover the costs of the principal.
Month-to-month rental agreements: Month-to-month lease agreements will often have similar basic terms to standard residential lease contracts. However, they differ as they can be renewed or ended on a month-by-month basis. Their terms may also be flexibly altered each month.
Commercial lease agreements: Commercial leases are provided by landlords of retail property to tenants that intend to use the real estate to run a business.
Room rental agreements: In rental properties with shared living areas, a room rental agreement can be used to rent a singular bedroom.
Sublease agreement: A New Hampshire sublease agreement allows tenants to reassign or ‘sublease’ the property to another individual. This requires the property landlord’s permission and must be specifically allowed in the original lease.
New Hampshire Lease Addendums and Disclosures
Lease agreements need to include certaindisclosures and addendums. These can varysignificantly depending on the state in which the property is located. The following overview contains all the essential addendums for New Hampshire lease agreements:
Disclosure/Addendum | Information That Must Be Disclosed |
---|---|
Lead paint disclosure | Details whether or not lead paint can be found on the premises (if the building was constructed before 1978). |
Move-in checklist | Landlords must give a rental inspection checklist to tenants that are moving into the property within 5 days of them taking possession (RSA 540-A:6(I)(c)) of the unit. |
Security deposit receipt | If the tenant pays the security deposit in cash they must be given a receipt for the amount collected. No matter how the deposit is paid, details on where the money will be kept must also be provided to the resident. (RSA 540-A:6(I)(b)). |
New Hampshire Lease Agreement Laws
New Hampshire lease agreements must be written according to the laws of NH state, to ensure that they are legally binding and hold up in court. These regulations will determine what terms you must include in the contract.
The most relevant laws to take into consideration when renting a property in New Hampshire are:
Maximum security deposit: In New Hampshire,landlords are not legally allowed to charge more than 1 months’ rent or $100 dollars, whichever is greater (RSA 540-A:6 (a)).
Returning the security deposit: The security deposit amount must be returned to the tenant no more than 30 days after they vacate the property. The only exception is if they share the property with the landlord, in which case the deposit must be returned in 20 days. In either case, the tenant must also be informed in advance of any deductions (RSA 540-A:7).
Landlord’s right to enter: Landlords need to give reasonable advance notice to enter the rental property (RSA 540-A:3).
New Hampshire Residential Lease Agreement Sample
Looking over a completed New Hampshire lease agreement sample is a good place to start when you’re planning to create your own document.
Use our template example below to understand the information that goes into this form and to learn more about what your document can do.

Other Real Estate Documents
Besides lease agreements, there are various other legal documents that are commonly used by landlords. If you are the owner of a rental property, one of the following forms may be helpful for you:
FAQs About New Hampshire Lease Agreement
It is important to carefully prepare a New Hampshire lease agreement to suit the needs of the landlord and tenant exactly.
To help demystify the process a little, simply review our FAQs below to learn more about the specificities of rental contracts in New Hampshire.
Can I Write My Own New Hampshire Lease Agreement?
It is possible to create a New Hampshire lease agreement completely online. Using our NH residential lease agreement maker you can tailor your document for your specific needs and take advantage of professional templates and expert tips.
Can a Lease Be Negotiated in New Hampshire?
Yes, a New Hampshire residential lease agreement can be negotiated before it is signed. The landlord and tenant will usually discuss the terms before the agreement is put into action. However, once a lease agreement is signed it cannot be altered until it comes to its natural end or is canceled.
Do I Need to Notarize My New Hampshire Residential Lease Agreement?
It is not necessary to notarize a New Hampshire residential lease agreement. However, whilst this might not be a legal requirement in New Hampshire state, signees are still advised to consider this step to provide further legal enforceability.

You are only a few steps away from your own New Hampshire Lease Agreement!