N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 354-A: § 354-A:12
Blockbusting.
Operative Text
It is a civil rights violation for any person to: I. Solicit for sale, lease, listing or purchase any residential real estate within this state, on the grounds of loss of value due to the present or prospective entry into the vicinity of the property involved of any person or persons of any particular race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familial status or disability. II. Distribute or cause to be distributed, written material or statements designed to induce any owner of residential real estate in this state to sell or lease his or her property because of any present or prospective changes in the race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familial status or disability of residents in the vicinity of the property involved. III. Intentionally create alarm, among residents of any community, by transmitting communications in any manner, including a telephone call whether or not conversation thereby ensues, with a design to induce any owner of residential real estate in this state to sell or lease his or her property because of any present or prospective entry into the vicinity of the property involved of any person or persons of any particular race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familial status or disability. IV. Evict a tenant solely on the grounds that the person has acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or is regarded to have acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
New Hampshire's anti-blockbusting provision, N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 354-A:12, prohibits a range of manipulative real-estate practices designed to exploit fears about neighborhood demographic change. Specifically, it bars soliciting property sales or leases by suggesting that the arrival of people of a particular protected class will lower property values, distributing materials intended to pressure owners into selling based on such changes, and deliberately spreading alarm through any communication channel to achieve the same end. The provision also independently prohibits evicting a tenant solely because that person has, or is perceived to have, AIDS. Together, these rules protect both property owners and tenants from coercive, discriminatory tactics in the housing market.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners, real estate agents, and property managers operating in New Hampshire should be aware that § 354-A:12 defines blockbusting as a civil rights violation, meaning that any solicitation, written material, or communication designed to leverage protected-class demographics as a reason to sell or lease is prohibited. Compliant operators ensure that their marketing, outreach, and tenant-management practices are free from any messaging that ties property decisions to the race, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristics of current or prospective neighbors. Additionally, § 354-A:12(IV) makes clear that a tenancy may not be terminated on the sole basis that a tenant has or is perceived to have AIDS, so lease-termination decisions must rest on lawful, non-discriminatory grounds.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants in New Hampshire are protected under § 354-A:12 from being evicted solely because they have, or are perceived to have, AIDS — a practice the statute classifies as a civil rights violation. If a tenant believes a landlord has engaged in blockbusting tactics or has attempted to terminate a tenancy on that prohibited basis, general enforcement paths include filing a complaint with the New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights, which administers Chapter 354-A. Tenants may also wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider to understand how § 354-A:12 applies to their circumstances and what remedies may be available.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 20, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation