New Hampshire Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel
New Hampshire rules on section 8, records & right to counsel for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: No. New Hampshire's fair housing law covers age, sex, gender identity, race, religion, color, marital status, familial status, physical or mental disability and national origin (and sexual orientation in advertising), but not source of income or housing vouchers. RSA 354-A:10
The rules in New Hampshire
| Statewide ban on refusing Section 8 / source of income | No. New Hampshire's fair housing law covers age, sex, gender identity, race, religion, color, marital status, familial status, physical or mental disability and national origin (and sexual orientation in advertising), but not source of income or housing vouchers. RSA 540:9-a addresses payment of rent by municipal welfare voucher in eviction cases, not refusal to rent. Source: RSA 354-A:10 |
|---|---|
| Eviction record sealing | No statute provides for sealing eviction court records. Related protection: no-fault terminations (such as non-renewal of a 12+ month lease, effective July 1, 2026) may not be considered evictions for rental applications or tenant screening reports. |
| Right to a lawyer in eviction | No statewide statutory right to counsel in eviction cases found. |
Related questions
- Can a landlord refuse Section 8?
- Can an eviction be removed from your record?
- Do tenants get a free lawyer for an eviction?
New Hampshire vs. neighboring states
| State | Statewide ban on refusing Section 8 / source of income | Eviction record sealing | Right to a lawyer in eviction |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | No. New Hampshire's fair housing law covers age, sex, gender identity, race, religion, color, marital status, familial status, physical or mental disability and national origin (and sexual orientation in advertising), but not source of income or housing vouchers. RSA 354-A:10 | No statute provides for sealing eviction court records. Related protection: no-fault terminations (such as non-renewal of a 12+ month lease, effective July 1, 2026) may not be considered evictions for rental applications or tenant screening reports. RSA ch. 540 and 540-A (no sealing provision); RSA 540:2, VIII | No statewide statutory right to counsel in eviction cases found. RSA ch. 540 (no counsel provision) |
| Maine | Yes. The Maine Human Rights Act makes it unlawful to refuse to rent to, or impose different tenancy terms on, someone who receives federal, state or local public assistance, including housing subsidies such as vouchers, primarily because they receive it. 5 M.R.S. § 4581-A(4) | Partial: there is no sealing or expungement, but FED and small-claims court records become available to the public only at a courthouse, not online, in three cases: (1) the parties agree; (2) the case was dismissed or decided for the defendant; or (3) more than 3 years have passed since judgment. This applies automatically by statute. 4 M.R.S. § 9-C (PL 2021, c. 644, LD 913) | No statewide right to counsel in eviction cases. By statute, the court must announce at the start of FED hearings if an attorney is available that day to represent tenants. The summons must include a court form that lists legal-help resources. 14 M.R.S. § 6004(2)-(3) |
| Massachusetts | Yes. It is unlawful to discriminate against a recipient of public assistance or a tenant receiving housing subsidies, including rental assistance or rental supplements, because of that status or because of any requirement of the assistance or subsidy program. This covers Section 8 and MRVP. G.L. c. 151B, § 4(10) | Yes, by petition on a trial-court form signed under penalty of perjury. No-fault evictions: the court must seal at any time after the case ends and appeals are exhausted. Cases dismissed or won by the tenant: may be sealed at any time, without notice to the other parties. Nonpayment cases: must be sealed if the case ended at least 4 years earlier, there have been no nonpayment or lessor actions against the petitioner in those 4 years, and the petitioner certifies the nonpayment was due to economic hardship. Fault cases: must be sealed after 7 years with no new fault or lessor actions. Consumer reporting agencies may not report sealed records and must remove them within 30 days. Rental applications that ask about evictions must state that an applicant with a sealed record may answer 'no record'. G.L. c. 239, § 16 | No statewide right to counsel in eviction cases found in G.L. c. 239. The trial court must report monthly how many landlords and tenants received legal representation through on-site court diversion programs. G.L. c. 239, § 15(c)(ix) |
| Vermont | Yes. It is unlawful to refuse to rent, set discriminatory terms, harass, or advertise a preference because a person receives public assistance, defined to include any federal, state, or local government assistance, including housing assistance. 9 V.S.A. § 4503(a); § 4501(6) | Not verified yet | Not verified yet |
More New Hampshire rental law
- New Hampshire Security Deposit Law
- New Hampshire Eviction Laws
- New Hampshire Notice to Vacate Rules
- Landlord Entry Rules in New Hampshire
- 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 Rental Fee Rules
- 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
Compare section 8, records & right to counsel in all 50 states and DC →
New Hampshire Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel FAQ
Is it illegal for a landlord to refuse Section 8 vouchers in New Hampshire?
No. New Hampshire's fair housing law covers age, sex, gender identity, race, religion, color, marital status, familial status, physical or mental disability and national origin (and sexual orientation in advertising), but not source of income or housing vouchers. (RSA 354-A:10)
Can an eviction record be sealed or removed in New Hampshire?
No statute provides for sealing eviction court records. Related protection: no-fault terminations (such as non-renewal of a 12+ month lease, effective July 1, 2026) may not be considered evictions for rental applications or tenant screening reports. (RSA ch. 540 and 540-A (no sealing provision); RSA 540:2, VIII)
Do tenants have a right to a free lawyer in eviction cases in New Hampshire?
No statewide statutory right to counsel in eviction cases found. (RSA ch. 540 (no counsel provision))
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.