New Hampshire Rental Fee Rules
New Hampshire rules on rental fees for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: No dollar cap. Before collecting any application or renewal fee, the landlord must disclose in writing the amount of the fee and whether a satisfactory criminal background and credit check is required. RSA 540-A:3, VIII
The rules in New Hampshire
| Application / screening fees | No dollar cap. Before collecting any application or renewal fee, the landlord must disclose in writing the amount of the fee and whether a satisfactory criminal background and credit check is required. If the applicant is not offered the unit, the landlord must refund everything beyond the actual cost of the documented background check, credit check and/or reasonable administrative costs within 30 days. No-fault terminations (e.g., lease expiration under RSA 540:2, II(i)) may not be treated as evictions in rental applications or tenant screening reports (RSA 540:2, VIII). Source: RSA 540-A:3, VIII |
|---|---|
| Other rental fees | Limited. A landlord may not require rent or other lease payments to be made only by electronic funds transfer (including automatic recurring transfers); at least one non-electronic payment method must be allowed. Application-fee disclosure and refund rules also apply. No general statute caps move-in or convenience fees or requires all-in rent disclosure. The electronic-payment rule (para. X) is excluded from the RSA 358-A civil-penalty remedies (RSA 540-A:4, IX(d)). Source: RSA 540-A:3, VIII, X |
Related questions
- How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee?
- What rental fees are illegal (junk fees)?
New Hampshire vs. neighboring states
| State | Application / screening fees | Other rental fees |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | No dollar cap. Before collecting any application or renewal fee, the landlord must disclose in writing the amount of the fee and whether a satisfactory criminal background and credit check is required. If the applicant is not offered the unit, the landlord must refund everything beyond the actual cost of the documented background check, credit check and/or reasonable administrative costs within 30 days. RSA 540-A:3, VIII | Limited. A landlord may not require rent or other lease payments to be made only by electronic funds transfer (including automatic recurring transfers); at least one non-electronic payment method must be allowed. Application-fee disclosure and refund rules also apply. No general statute caps move-in or convenience fees or requires all-in rent disclosure. RSA 540-A:3, VIII, X |
| Maine | Application fees and fees to review or approve an application are banned. The one exception: the landlord may charge the actual cost of only one of these: a background check, a credit check or another screening process. The landlord must first tell the applicant that the law requires giving them a complete copy of the information obtained, and must then provide that copy. No more than one screening fee per applicant in any 12-month period. 14 M.R.S. § 6030-H (PL 2023, c. 346) | Move-in cap: at the start of a tenancy the landlord, agent or broker may not require more than (1) the first full month's rent, (2) a security deposit within the § 6032 limit, and (3) any properly disclosed mandatory recurring fee. Before signing, the landlord must give a signed, plain-language written disclosure of total rent, mandatory recurring fees, optional recurring fees, utility costs and any other cost the tenant will pay. This is not required if the tenant pays no recurring fees. Optional recurring fees (for non-essential services or features) are allowed only with prior written notice that the tenant may opt in and stop paying at any time without penalty; a landlord may not deny or end a tenancy because the tenant opts out. Notice rules for raising rent or a mandatory recurring fee are in § 6015. 14 M.R.S. §§ 6000(1-A), 6022-A, 6030-I, 6030-J (PL 2023, c. 594) |
| Massachusetts | Banned in effect. Before or at the start of a tenancy, a landlord or the landlord's agent may not require any payment except: first month's rent, last month's rent, a security deposit of no more than one month's rent, and the cost of buying and installing a lock and key. Application and screening fees are not on the list. G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(b) (as amended by St. 2025, c. 9, §§ 54-55, eff. Aug. 1, 2025) | Payments at move-in are limited to the four items in § 15B(1)(b). Since Aug. 1, 2025, that limit also covers payments to the landlord's agent, which ends renter-paid broker fees when the broker works for the landlord. After the tenancy starts, the landlord may not demand advance rent beyond the current month or a larger deposit. No late fee or interest may be charged until rent is 30 days overdue. Regulations may allow an optional 'fee in lieu of security deposit', capped at one month's rent in total. G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(b)-(d) |
| Vermont | Banned. A landlord or agent may not charge any application fee to apply for a residential rental. For background or credit checks the landlord must accept any unexpired government ID, an ITIN, or a Social Security number, and may not require an SSN or reject an application for lacking one. 9 V.S.A. § 4456a | Not verified yet |
More New Hampshire rental law
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- New Hampshire Eviction Laws
- New Hampshire Notice to Vacate Rules
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- New Hampshire Repairs & Tenant Remedies
- New Hampshire Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws
- Breaking a Lease in New Hampshire
- Squatters' Rights in New Hampshire
- New Hampshire Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel
- New Hampshire Mold, Pests, Heat & AC Rules
- New Hampshire Privacy, Guests & Animal Rules
- New Hampshire Landlord Selling the House
- New Hampshire Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation
- New Hampshire Subletting, Lease Endings & Tenant Death
- All New Hampshire landlord-tenant rules
- Free legal help in New Hampshire
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New Hampshire Rental Fee Rules FAQ
Is there a limit on rental application fees in New Hampshire?
No dollar cap. Before collecting any application or renewal fee, the landlord must disclose in writing the amount of the fee and whether a satisfactory criminal background and credit check is required. If the applicant is not offered the unit, the landlord must refund everything beyond the actual cost of the documented background check, credit check and/or reasonable administrative costs within 30 days. (RSA 540-A:3, VIII)
What rental fees are banned or limited in New Hampshire?
Limited. A landlord may not require rent or other lease payments to be made only by electronic funds transfer (including automatic recurring transfers); at least one non-electronic payment method must be allowed. Application-fee disclosure and refund rules also apply. No general statute caps move-in or convenience fees or requires all-in rent disclosure. (RSA 540-A:3, VIII, X)
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.