Landlord guide, New Hampshire (NH)
New Hampshire eviction process: the landlord’s steps from notice to removal
The eviction process in New Hampshire starts with the demand for rent and 7-day eviction notice: 7 calendar days for unpaid rent (N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 540:2, II(a), 540:3, II, IV, 540:9). Then the landlord files in the circuit court, district division, where the case is called landlord and tenant possessory action; the court hears it, and after judgment a court officer carries out the removal.
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- Notice for unpaid rent
- 7 calendar days
- N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 540:2, II(a), 540:3, II, IV, 540:9
- Court
- circuit court, district division
- N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 540:13, 540:13-c, 540:14, 540:20
- Time to appeal
- 7 days
- N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 540:13, 540:13-c, 540:14, 540:20
- Checked against the statutes
- 1 November 2026
Step by step
The eviction process New Hampshire landlords follow, step by step
Notice and court names are given as they read on New Hampshire’s own forms, and timing details are quoted from the statute.
- 1
Step 1
Serve the notice
Unpaid rent: the demand for rent and 7-day eviction notice, 7 calendar days (N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 540:2, II(a), 540:3, II, IV, 540:9).
Paying everything owed inside the period ends the case, by statute.
Another breach of the lease: the 30-day eviction notice, 30 calendar days (N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 540:2, II(c), 540:3, II-III).
No reason, month to month: 30 days’ notice (RSA 540:3).
What the statute adds, in English
A possessory action based only on unpaid rent is dismissed if the tenant pays all rent due, lawful charges, $15 liquidated damages and the landlord's filing and service costs before the hearing, but no more than 3 times in 12 months. The notice must tell the tenant of that right.
- 2
Step 2
File the eviction in court
File in the circuit court, district division, where the case is called landlord and tenant possessory action (N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 540:13, 540:13-c, 540:14, 540:20).
- 3
Step 3
Go to the hearing
The tenant has 7 days to answer the complaint.
In the statute, in English
within 10 days after the tenant files an appearance, with notice mailed at least 6 days before
- 4
Step 4
Judgment and appeal
If the court rules for you, the tenant has 7 days to appeal.
- 5
Step 5
Removal by a court officer
An officer of the court carries out the removal, on the court’s order.
The statute sets no removal timetable we could confirm; the officer schedules it.
New Hampshire eviction process timeline
- Notice before filing
- 7 calendar days
- Time to answer
- 7 days
- Hearing
- Quoted in step 3
- Time to appeal
- 7 days
- Removal
- Not confirmed
Only some steps have a number in the statute, so no honest total exists: after filing, the court sets the pace.
Can you change the locks yourself?
No. New Hampshire bans self-help eviction (N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 540-A:3, I-II), so only the court process can remove a tenant.
A landlord may not interrupt utilities or deny the tenant access to the premises other than through proper judicial process. Damages for a lockout where the unit was re-let are at least $3,000.
The court process is the safe course in every state.
Write the New Hampshire eviction notice
Fill in the notice for New Hampshire in the generator, then read the rest of the state’s landlord law before you serve it.
Where Dardaris comes in
Most evictions start as one late payment. Dardaris sees it on day one.
It notices the missed rent the day it is due, sends the tenant a reminder, and if nothing comes, drafts the New Hampshire notice with its 7 calendar days. You read it and sign; nothing goes out without you.
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Dardaris
The statutes
New Hampshire eviction laws, with the statute behind each step
| Step | What the law says | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Notice for unpaid rent | demand for rent and 7-day eviction notice7 calendar daysPaying in full within the period stops itA possessory action based only on unpaid rent is dismissed if the tenant pays all rent due, lawful charges, $15 liquidated damages and the landlord's filing and service costs before the hearing, but no more than 3 times in 12 months. The notice must tell the tenant of that right. | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 540:2, II(a), 540:3, II, IV, 540:9 |
| Notice for a lease breach | 30-day eviction notice30 calendar daysFailure to comply with a material lease term needs 30 days' notice stating the reason, and the statute gives no right to cure. Substantial damage or behaviour threatening health or safety needs only 7 days. | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 540:2, II(c), 540:3, II-III |
| Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy | 30 daysFor 'restricted property' (most residential rentals), a landlord may end a tenancy only for a good cause listed in RSA 540:2, II. | RSA 540:3 |
| How a notice is served | personal delivery to the tenant, by any personleaving it at the tenant's last and usual place of abode | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 540:5, I |
| Court and action | circuit court, district divisionlandlord and tenant possessory action | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 540:13, 540:13-c, 540:14, 540:20 |
| Time to answer | 7 days | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 540:13, 540:13-c, 540:14, 540:20 |
| Hearing | within 10 days after the tenant files an appearance, with notice mailed at least 6 days before | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 540:13, 540:13-c, 540:14, 540:20 |
| Time to appeal | 7 days | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 540:13, 540:13-c, 540:14, 540:20 |
| Removal | Not confirmed from the statute | Not confirmed from the statute |
| Self-help (lockouts, utilities) | BannedA landlord may not interrupt utilities or deny the tenant access to the premises other than through proper judicial process. Damages for a lockout where the unit was re-let are at least $3,000. | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 540-A:3, I-II |
Read against the official texts below on 1 November 2026. The month-to-month period was checked on 29 September 2026.
- https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/LV/540/540-mrg.htm
- https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/LV/540-A/540-A-mrg.htm
- https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/LV/540-A/540-A-6.htm
- https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/LV/540-A/540-A-7.htm
- https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/LV/540-A/540-A-3.htm
- https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/lv/540/540-2.htm
- https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/lv/540/540-3.htm
Questions landlords ask about eviction in New Hampshire
How long does an eviction take in New Hampshire?
The notice for unpaid rent runs 7 calendar days before you can file. After that the court sets the pace, so there is no honest total: the hearing, the judgment and the removal follow the court’s calendar and the timing rules quoted on this page.
What notice does a New Hampshire landlord serve for unpaid rent?
The demand for rent and 7-day eviction notice, which gives the tenant 7 calendar days (N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 540:2, II(a), 540:3, II, IV, 540:9). Paying everything owed inside the period ends the case, by statute.
Can a landlord change the locks in New Hampshire?
No. New Hampshire bans self-help eviction (N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 540-A:3, I-II), so only the court process can remove a tenant. The exact limits are quoted on this page.
Where is an eviction filed in New Hampshire?
In the circuit court, district division, where the case is called landlord and tenant possessory action (N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 540:13, 540:13-c, 540:14, 540:20).
How does a landlord end a month-to-month tenancy in New Hampshire?
With 30 days’ notice (RSA 540:3). If the tenant stays on after that, the eviction process on this page applies.
Can the tenant appeal an eviction in New Hampshire?
Yes. The tenant has 7 days after the judgment to appeal.
How long does the NH eviction process take?
The notice for unpaid rent runs 7 calendar days before you can file. After that the court sets the pace, so there is no honest total: the hearing, the judgment and the removal follow the court’s calendar and the timing rules quoted on this page.
The eviction process in other states
- Missouri: no notice before filing
- Montana: 3 calendar days for unpaid rent
- Nebraska: 7 calendar days for unpaid rent
- Nevada: 7 court days for unpaid rent
- New Jersey: no notice before filing
- New Mexico: 3 calendar days for unpaid rent
- New York: 14 calendar days for unpaid rent
- North Carolina: 10 calendar days for unpaid rent
General information, not legal adviceEviction law changes, and a court can read a statute differently from this summary. Check the current text and your local court’s rules, or ask a lawyer licensed in the state, before you serve a notice or file.
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