New Hampshire security deposit law

Read from the statute itself on 2026-11-09. Statewide rule; a city or county can add its own.

Maximum deposit: 1 month of rent
Return deadline: 30 days
Interest: Required in some cases

Capped at the greater of one month's rent or $100, returned within 30 days after the tenancy ends; interest is owed on a deposit held 1 year or more. Exempt: a landlord renting one single-family home with no other rental, and owner-occupied buildings of 5 units or less (except units with a tenant 60+).

Source: RSA 540-A:6, I(a) and IV(a); RSA 540-A:7, I · read on 2026-11-09

Calculate it for your rent

State

Monthly rent ($)

Maximum legal deposit

$2,500

Up to 1 month of rent under RSA 540-A:6, I(a) and IV(a); RSA 540-A:7, I.

Return deadline

30 days

Within 30 days after the tenancy ends, with any interest due. Deductions need a written itemized list of damage with evidence of repair.

Interest required

Yes

In some situations — see the note

New Hampshire: Capped at the greater of one month's rent or $100, returned within 30 days after the tenancy ends; interest is owed on a deposit held 1 year or more. Exempt: a landlord renting one single-family home with no other rental, and owner-occupied buildings of 5 units or less (except units with a tenant 60+).

Source: RSA 540-A:6, I(a) and IV(a); RSA 540-A:7, I · read on 2026-11-09

New Hampshire: common questions

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in New Hampshire?

Up to 1 month of rent under RSA 540-A:6, I(a) and IV(a); RSA 540-A:7, I. Capped at the greater of one month's rent or $100, returned within 30 days after the tenancy ends; interest is owed on a deposit held 1 year or more. Exempt: a landlord renting one single-family home with no other rental, and owner-occupied buildings of 5 units or less (except units with a tenant 60+).

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in New Hampshire?

30 days. Within 30 days after the tenancy ends, with any interest due. Deductions need a written itemized list of damage with evidence of repair.

Not legal advice. Confirm with a local landlord-tenant attorney before relying on a figure.

For associations, blogs and resource pages

Add this calculator to your website

Free, no signup, no tracking form inside. Paste this code where you want it; it opens on New Hampshire, and your readers can switch to any other.

<iframe src="https://www.proprietio.com/embed/security-deposit-calculator?state=nh" title="Security deposit calculator by state" width="100%" height="820" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe>
<p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Free <a href="https://www.proprietio.com/tools/security-deposit-calculator">security deposit calculator by state</a> by Proprietio.</p>