RSA 540-A:3: Prohibited Acts by New Hampshire Landlords and Tenants
Statute text last checked: October 23, 2026
Does your lease follow RSA 540-A:3? Upload it to see which clauses may conflict with New Hampshire law.
Check your New Hampshire lease →RSA 540-A:3 lists specific acts New Hampshire prohibits between landlords and tenants, including utility shutoffs, lockouts, and unauthorized entry.
A landlord may not willfully (540-A:3) …
- Cause the interruption or termination of a utility service to the tenant, such as water, heat, electricity, or gas, except temporarily during actual repairs or emergencies (I).
- Deny a tenant access to and possession of the rented premises, or of the tenant's property, other than through proper judicial process (II, III).
- Enter the tenant's premises without prior consent, other than to make emergency repairs (IV). Emergency entry includes addressing a rodent or insect infestation, including bed bugs, within 72 hours of first notice (IV-a).
- Fail to investigate a tenant's report of an insect or rodent infestation within 7 days of notice, or fail to take reasonable measures to remediate it (V-a).
Tenant duties (540-A:3 V–V-c)
- A tenant may not willfully refuse access for necessary repairs or other reasonable, lawful functions at a reasonable time after adequate notice. The wording of paragraph V changes effective October 8, 2026.
- A tenant may not refuse access for emergency repairs, or for a bed bug evaluation after 48 hours' written notice when an adjacent unit has bed bugs, and must follow reasonable written pest-preparation instructions given at least 72 hours before remediation.
Vehicles and property in common areas (II-a to II-c)
- A landlord may remove certain vehicles or property blocking access, leaking fluids, or parked in violation of posted rules or the lease, after the notice steps in II-b. See the statute for the full rules.
Frequently asked questions
Can a New Hampshire landlord enter without permission?
RSA 540-A:3, IV says a landlord may not willfully enter without the tenant's prior consent other than to make emergency repairs, and V-d limits non-consensual entry to emergency repairs or a court order.
Can a NH landlord shut off utilities or change the locks?
No. RSA 540-A:3 prohibits willfully interrupting utilities (except temporary repairs or emergencies) and denying a tenant access to the premises other than through proper judicial process.
Sources
- RSA 540-A:3 (official text)
Get your state's renter checklist.
Enter your email and we'll show it here and email you a copy.
No spam. Informational tool, not legal advice; FlagMyLease is not a law firm.