Nashua is New Hampshire's second-largest city, and renters here rely on state law for all tenant protections. Here's a plain-language guide to your rights in Hillsborough County.·Actualizado June 2026
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Puntos Clave
Control de renta: None — New Hampshire has no rent control law. Landlords may raise rent by any amount with proper notice.
Depósito de garantía: Capped at 1 month's rent (or $100, whichever is greater). Must be returned within 30 days of move-out with an itemized statement (RSA 540-A:6). Wrongful withholding entitles you to double the amount withheld.
Aviso de desalojo: At least 30 days' written notice required to terminate a month-to-month tenancy (RSA 540:3); for "restricted" property (most non-owner-occupied rentals), the landlord must also have a statutory good cause under RSA 540:2, II, so notice alone does not permit a no-cause eviction.
Desalojo con causa justa: Required for most rentals — New Hampshire requires statutory good cause to terminate or non-renew "restricted" property (most non-owner-occupied rentals) under RSA 540:2, II; only "nonrestricted" property (owner-occupied buildings of 4 or fewer units, owners of 3 or fewer single-family homes, and certain foreclosed property under RSA 540:1-a) may be terminated without cause.
Recursos locales: New Hampshire Legal Assistance (nhla.org), Nashua Housing Authority
1. Overview: Tenant Rights in Nashua
Nashua is New Hampshire's second-largest city and a major commercial hub in Hillsborough County. Its rental market has grown steadily, attracting workers from both New Hampshire and nearby Massachusetts. Like all New Hampshire cities, Nashua has no local tenant protection ordinances — your rights as a renter come entirely from state law.
New Hampshire's landlord-tenant framework is governed primarily by RSA 540 (evictions and terminations) and RSA 540-A (prohibited practices and security deposits). While the state's statutes are less detailed than many other states, the implied warranty of habitability and Nashua's local housing inspection program provide important leverage for renters dealing with unsafe conditions.
2. Does Nashua Have Rent Control?
Nashua has no rent control, and New Hampshire has never enacted a statewide rent control or stabilization law. There is no state preemption statute — simply no law authorizing it. Landlords in Nashua can raise rent by any amount they choose at the end of a lease term or with proper notice on a month-to-month tenancy. Renters facing large rent increases have no legal ceiling to point to, making it important to understand your other rights under state law.
3. New Hampshire State Tenant Protections That Apply in Nashua
New Hampshire provides Nashua renters with the following key protections:
Security Deposit Cap: Your landlord cannot charge more than one month's rent (or $100, whichever is greater) as a security deposit (RSA 540-A:6). The deposit must be returned within 30 days of move-out with a written itemized statement of deductions. If your landlord wrongfully withholds any portion, you are entitled to double the amount wrongfully withheld.
Notice to Terminate: Month-to-month tenants must receive at least 30 days' written notice before the landlord can terminate the tenancy (RSA 540:2).
Implied Warranty of Habitability: Landlords must maintain essential services including heat, hot water, and functioning plumbing. If your landlord fails to make repairs, contact Nashua's Code Enforcement office — municipal enforcement is often the most effective remedy available to New Hampshire renters.
Retaliation Protection: Landlords cannot retaliate against you for reporting housing code violations or exercising your legal rights by raising rent or initiating eviction (RSA 540:13-a).
No Self-Help Eviction: Landlords must file for eviction through the district court. Changing locks, removing doors, or removing your belongings without a court order is prohibited (RSA 540-A:2).
4. Security Deposit Rules in Nashua
Nashua landlords are subject to one of the few bright-line rules in New Hampshire tenant law: the security deposit cap. Under RSA 540-A:6, landlords cannot charge more than one month's rent (or $100, whichever is greater) as a security deposit. When you move out, your landlord has 30 days to return the deposit along with a written, itemized statement of any deductions. If any portion is wrongfully withheld, you are entitled to double that amount — not just a refund. Document your unit's condition thoroughly at move-in and move-out with timestamped photos to protect your claim.
5. Eviction Process and Your Rights in Nashua
To evict a tenant in Nashua, a landlord must follow New Hampshire's formal eviction process under RSA 540. This begins with a written notice — most commonly a 7-day notice to pay rent or vacate for nonpayment, or a 30-day termination notice for month-to-month tenancies. If you do not comply, the landlord must file an eviction action in Hillsborough County Circuit Court and obtain a court judgment before you can be removed. Self-help eviction is illegal in New Hampshire — your landlord cannot change the locks, shut off utilities, or remove your belongings without a court order (RSA 540-A:2). For "restricted" property — most non-owner-occupied rentals — New Hampshire requires the landlord to have a statutory good cause under RSA 540:2, II to terminate or decline to renew; only "nonrestricted" property under RSA 540:1-a (such as owner-occupied buildings of four or fewer units) may be ended without cause.
The 30-day no-cause notice applies only to "nonrestricted" property. The 30-day no-cause termination notice described above is available only for "nonrestricted" property under RSA 540:1-a (for example, owner-occupied buildings of four or fewer units). For "restricted" property — most non-owner-occupied rentals — a landlord cannot terminate the tenancy without one of the statutory good-cause grounds in RSA 540:2, II, so giving notice alone is not enough; the notice periods themselves are set by RSA 540:3, not RSA 540:2.
2026 update — HB60 (effective July 1, 2026): HB60 amends RSA 540:2 to add the expiration of a written residential lease term of 12 months or longer (including cumulative renewals reaching 12 or more months) as a good-cause ground for not renewing a "restricted"-property tenancy. The landlord must give at least 60 days' written notice of non-renewal and must file any eviction (possessory) action within six months of the lease expiration. Such no-fault, end-of-lease non-renewals are excluded from a tenant's reportable eviction history for tenant-screening purposes. Confirm the codified text of RSA 540:2 on or after July 1, 2026.
6. Resources for Nashua Tenants
New Hampshire Legal Assistance — Free civil legal aid for low-income NH residents including eviction defense and housing matters.
This article provides general information about tenant rights in Nashua and is not legal advice. Laws change — verify current rules with a local attorney or tenant organization.
Verifica tu dirección
Averigua si tu vivienda está cubierta por el control de renta o las protecciones para inquilinos.
No. Nashua has no rent control ordinance, and New Hampshire has no statewide rent control or stabilization law. Landlords can raise rent by any amount with proper notice at the end of a lease term or on a month-to-month tenancy.
How much can my landlord raise my rent in Nashua?
There is no legal limit on rent increases in Nashua or anywhere in New Hampshire. Your landlord can raise rent by any amount. For month-to-month tenancies, they must provide adequate written notice before the increase takes effect.
How long does my landlord have to return my security deposit in Nashua?
Your landlord has 30 days after you move out to return your security deposit with a written itemized statement of any deductions (RSA 540-A:6). If they wrongfully withhold any amount, you are entitled to double the withheld sum — not just a refund.
What notice does my landlord need before evicting me in Nashua?
For nonpayment of rent, a 7-day pay-or-quit notice is typically required. To terminate a month-to-month tenancy, your landlord must give at least 30 days' written notice (RSA 540:2). After notice, the landlord must file in Hillsborough County Circuit Court and obtain a judgment before you can be removed.
Can my landlord lock me out or shut off utilities in Nashua?
No. Self-help eviction is prohibited under RSA 540-A:2. Your landlord cannot change the locks, remove your belongings, or interrupt utilities to force you out without a court order. If this happens, contact New Hampshire Legal Assistance immediately.
What can I do if my landlord refuses to make repairs in Nashua?
Put your repair request in writing and keep a copy. If your landlord fails to act, contact Nashua's Code Enforcement office to report habitability violations — municipal enforcement is often the most effective tool available to NH renters. You can also consult New Hampshire Legal Assistance about your options, which may include lease termination for serious habitability failures.
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