New Hampshire Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation
New Hampshire rules on lockouts, utility shutoffs & retaliation for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: Self-help eviction is banned. A landlord may not willfully seize, hold, or otherwise deny a tenant access to the rented premises or to the tenant's property except through proper judicial process, and may not try to get around the court eviction procedure. RSA 540-A:2, 540-A:3, II-III; RSA 540-A:4, VII-IX; RSA 358-A:10
The rules in New Hampshire
| Lockouts and illegal eviction | Self-help eviction is banned. A landlord may not willfully seize, hold, or otherwise deny a tenant access to the rented premises or to the tenant's property except through proper judicial process, and may not try to get around the court eviction procedure. The tenant may file a petition in district court; the court may order relief including an order stopping the conduct and damages. A violating landlord owes actual damages or $1,000, whichever is greater (2 to 3 times that amount if willful or knowing), plus costs and attorney's fees; if the landlord has re-let the unit or has a new tenant in it, damages for the unlawful lockout are at least $3,000. The court may issue temporary orders, even without notice, on a showing of immediate threat of irreparable harm. A landlord must store belongings left by a tenant who vacated with reasonable care for 7 days, during which the tenant may recover them without paying rent or storage fees (RSA 540-A:3, VII). |
|---|---|
| Landlord shutting off utilities | No. A landlord may not willfully cause, directly or indirectly, the interruption or termination of any utility service supplied to the tenant, including water, heat, light, electricity, gas, telephone, sewerage, elevator, or refrigeration, whether or not the landlord controls the service, except temporary interruptions during actual repairs or emergencies. The tenant may petition the district court (no filing fee), and a violating landlord owes actual damages or $1,000, whichever is greater (2 to 3 times that amount if willful or knowing), plus costs and reasonable attorney's fees. Each day a violation continues after a temporary court order counts as a separate violation (RSA 540-A:4, IX(a)). A tenancy also may not be ended for nonpayment if the tenant had to take over the landlord's utility payments to prevent shutoff and the arrears do not exceed what the tenant paid, with proof (RSA 540:2, VI). Damages provision: https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/XXXI/358-A/358-A-10.htm |
| Landlord retaliation | Defense to eviction if retaliatory for: reporting (in good faith) a code or RSA 540-A violation to the landlord or an enforcement agency; filing an RSA 540-A action or using RSA 540:13-d; or meeting/organizing with other tenants. Rebuttable presumption of retaliation if the landlord evicts, raises rent, or substantially changes terms within 6 months of the protected act. Defense unavailable if tenant owes one week's rent or more (RSA 540:13-a, https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/LV/540/540-13-a.htm). Presumption doesn't apply if the court finds the complaint was primarily meant to prevent eviction. A tenant who wins a retaliation defense may recover up to 3 months' rent (RSA 540:14). Source: RSA 540:13-a; RSA 540:13-b |
Related questions
New Hampshire vs. neighboring states
| State | Lockouts and illegal eviction | Landlord shutting off utilities | Landlord retaliation |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | Self-help eviction is banned. A landlord may not willfully seize, hold, or otherwise deny a tenant access to the rented premises or to the tenant's property except through proper judicial process, and may not try to get around the court eviction procedure. The tenant may file a petition in district court; the court may order relief including an order stopping the conduct and damages. A violating landlord owes actual damages or $1,000, whichever is greater (2 to 3 times that amount if willful or knowing), plus costs and attorney's fees; if the landlord has re-let the unit or has a new tenant in it, damages for the unlawful lockout are at least $3,000. RSA 540-A:2, 540-A:3, II-III; RSA 540-A:4, VII-IX; RSA 358-A:10 | No. A landlord may not willfully cause, directly or indirectly, the interruption or termination of any utility service supplied to the tenant, including water, heat, light, electricity, gas, telephone, sewerage, elevator, or refrigeration, whether or not the landlord controls the service, except temporary interruptions during actual repairs or emergencies. The tenant may petition the district court (no filing fee), and a violating landlord owes actual damages or $1,000, whichever is greater (2 to 3 times that amount if willful or knowing), plus costs and reasonable attorney's fees. RSA 540-A:3, I; RSA 540-A:4; RSA 358-A:10 | Defense to eviction if retaliatory for: reporting (in good faith) a code or RSA 540-A violation to the landlord or an enforcement agency; filing an RSA 540-A action or using RSA 540:13-d; or meeting/organizing with other tenants. Rebuttable presumption of retaliation if the landlord evicts, raises rent, or substantially changes terms within 6 months of the protected act. RSA 540:13-a; RSA 540:13-b |
| Maine | Evictions carried out without going through the court eviction process ('forcible entry and detainer') are illegal. A landlord may not willfully seize, hold or deny a tenant access to the rented home, or to the tenant's belongings, other than through proper court process. A court that finds an illegal eviction must award the tenant actual damages or $250, whichever is greater, and/or the tenant's reasonable costs and attorney's fees; these remedies are in addition to any others. 14 M.R.S. §6014 | A landlord may not willfully cause, directly or indirectly, the interruption or termination of any utility service to the tenant (water, heat, light, electricity, gas, telephone, sewer, elevator or refrigeration), whether or not the landlord controls the service, except temporary interruptions needed for actual repairs or emergencies; this is an illegal eviction. The tenant can recover actual damages or $250, whichever is greater, and the court may award costs and reasonable attorney's fees (14 M.R.S. §6014). If a landlord fails to pay for utility service in the landlord's name, the tenant may pay it and deduct the amount from rent, and the court must award the amount paid or $100, whichever is greater, plus costs (14 M.R.S. §6024-A). 14 M.R.S. §6014; 14 M.R.S. §6024-A | Rebuttable presumption of retaliation if the landlord files an eviction within 6 months after the tenant: asserted rights under §§ 6015, 6016, 6021, 6030-D, 6030-I or 6030-J; made a good-faith code complaint (or a code agency filed one); made a good-faith written complaint or repair request; filed a fair-housing complaint with the Maine Human Rights Commission or HUD; notified the landlord of domestic violence/sexual assault/stalking victim status; or reported sexual harassment by the landlord. 14 M.R.S. § 6001(3) |
| Massachusetts | If a landlord or agent removes a tenant from the home or shuts the tenant out without a valid court order, the tenant may get back possession or end the lease and, either way, recover three months' rent or three times the damages suffered, plus court costs and reasonable attorney's fees (G.L. c. 186, §15F). A landlord who tries to regain possession by force without court process, or interferes with quiet enjoyment, also faces a fine or jail and liability for actual and consequential damages or three months' rent, whichever is greater (c. 186, §14). Lease clauses excusing the landlord are void. G.L. c. 186, §15F; G.L. c. 186, §14 | A landlord who must supply water, hot water, heat, light, power, gas, elevator, telephone, janitor or refrigeration service and willfully fails to do so, interferes with another's supply of those services, or shifts utility payments to the tenant without the tenant's knowledge or consent, commits a crime (fine of $25 to $300 or up to 6 months in jail) and is liable for actual and consequential damages or three months' rent, whichever is greater, plus costs and reasonable attorney's fees. Courts may order the landlord to stop. Lease clauses waiving these rights are void, except for interruptions needed for repairs, natural causes beyond the landlord's control, or government restrictions. G.L. c. 186, §14 | Prohibited. Protected acts include: pursuing a court or agency action to enforce housing laws; reporting suspected health, building, or housing code violations to the board of health or a similar agency, or complaining in writing to the landlord; organizing or joining a tenants' union; and certain c. 164 § 124D and c. 183A rent-payment rights. A termination notice (other than for nonpayment), a rent increase, or a substantial change in lease terms within 6 months after protected activity is presumed retaliatory. The landlord can rebut the presumption only by clear and convincing evidence. Damages: at least 1 and up to 3 months' rent, or actual damages if greater, plus costs and reasonable attorney's fees. G.L. c. 186, § 18 |
| Vermont | A landlord may not, directly or indirectly, deny a tenant access to and possession of the rental or the tenant's belongings except through proper court process. A tenant harmed by an illegal eviction may sue for an injunction (for example, to get back in), damages, costs and reasonable attorney's fees. A court may award the landlord attorney's fees if the tenant's suit was not in good faith and was frivolous or meant only to harass. 9 V.S.A. §§ 4463(b)-(c), 4464 | No. A landlord may not willfully cause, directly or indirectly, the interruption or termination of any utility service being supplied to the tenant, except temporary interruptions for emergency repairs. Vermont treats this as an illegal eviction. A tenant harmed by it may sue for an injunction, damages, costs and reasonable attorney's fees. 9 V.S.A. §§ 4463(a), 4464 | Landlord may not retaliate (by setting or changing lease terms, or by bringing or threatening an action) because a tenant complained to a government agency about a health/safety violation, complained to the landlord about a chapter 137 violation, or organized/joined a tenants' union. A termination notice (other than for nonpayment) served within 90 days after a state or municipal finding of a health or safety noncompliance is presumed retaliatory (rebuttable). 9 V.S.A. 4465 |
More New Hampshire rental law
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- All New Hampshire landlord-tenant rules
- Free legal help in New Hampshire
Compare lockouts, utility shutoffs & retaliation in all 50 states and DC →
New Hampshire Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation FAQ
Can a landlord change the locks without a court order in New Hampshire?
Self-help eviction is banned. A landlord may not willfully seize, hold, or otherwise deny a tenant access to the rented premises or to the tenant's property except through proper judicial process, and may not try to get around the court eviction procedure. The tenant may file a petition in district court; the court may order relief including an order stopping the conduct and damages. A violating landlord owes actual damages or $1,000, whichever is greater (2 to 3 times that amount if willful or knowing), plus costs and attorney's fees; if the landlord has re-let the unit or has a new tenant in it, damages for the unlawful lockout are at least $3,000. (RSA 540-A:2, 540-A:3, II-III; RSA 540-A:4, VII-IX; RSA 358-A:10)
Can a landlord shut off utilities in New Hampshire?
No. A landlord may not willfully cause, directly or indirectly, the interruption or termination of any utility service supplied to the tenant, including water, heat, light, electricity, gas, telephone, sewerage, elevator, or refrigeration, whether or not the landlord controls the service, except temporary interruptions during actual repairs or emergencies. The tenant may petition the district court (no filing fee), and a violating landlord owes actual damages or $1,000, whichever is greater (2 to 3 times that amount if willful or knowing), plus costs and reasonable attorney's fees. (RSA 540-A:3, I; RSA 540-A:4; RSA 358-A:10)
Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant for complaining in New Hampshire?
Defense to eviction if retaliatory for: reporting (in good faith) a code or RSA 540-A violation to the landlord or an enforcement agency; filing an RSA 540-A action or using RSA 540:13-d; or meeting/organizing with other tenants. Rebuttable presumption of retaliation if the landlord evicts, raises rent, or substantially changes terms within 6 months of the protected act. (RSA 540:13-a; RSA 540:13-b)
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.