N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 358-H: § 358-H:3
Contract Requirements.
Operative Text
I. No rental referral agency shall charge or attempt to collect any fee or other consideration from any prospective tenant except pursuant to a written contract which shall be delivered to the prospective tenant at the time the contract is signed. Every contract must constitute the entire agreement between the parties, shall be dated, and shall be signed by the prospective tenant. II. Every written contract between a rental referral agency and a prospective tenant shall further include provisions stating: (a) The specifications of rental property sought by the prospective tenant, including maximum rent, desired lease period, geographic area, number of bedrooms required, number of occupants to be housed, and number and type of pets. (b) That any deposit in excess of $10 shall be repaid or refunded to the prospective tenant, upon demand, should the specified rental property not be obtained through the agency's assistance within 30 days of the contract. (c) That the full deposit or fee shall be repaid or refunded to the prospective tenant if the information concerning rental properties is not accurate or current as required by RSA 358-H:4, I. (d) That the rental referral agency will maintain a surety bond in compliance with RSA 358-H:8 and identifying the bonding company. (e) The manner in which the rental property information has been collected and the form in which it will be furnished to the prospective tenant. (f) The name, address, and telephone number of the person to whom complaints and requests for refunds should be directed.
New Hampshire's N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 358-H:3 governs the contracts that rental referral agencies must use when charging fees to prospective tenants. Under this provision, no fee may be collected without a written contract delivered to the tenant at signing, and that contract must stand as the complete agreement between the parties. The contract must spell out the tenant's specific housing needs, refund rights (including a full refund if listings are inaccurate or if suitable housing isn't found within 30 days), the agency's surety bond information, how listings are gathered and delivered, and a contact for complaints and refund requests.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Rental referral agencies operating in New Hampshire under § 358-H:3 are generally expected to prepare written contracts that are comprehensive, dated, and signed by the prospective tenant before or at the moment any fee is collected. A compliant contract includes the tenant's stated housing specifications, clear refund terms tied to the 30-day placement window and listing accuracy standards, the name of the bonding company backing the agency's surety bond, and a designated contact for complaints. Operators typically review their contract templates regularly to ensure all required disclosures remain present and accurate.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 358-H:3, prospective tenants have the right to receive a complete written contract at the time they sign with a rental referral agency — not after the fact. If the agency fails to find suitable housing within 30 days, or if the listing information turns out to be inaccurate or outdated as defined by RSA 358-H:4, I, the contract must include provisions guaranteeing a refund of deposits or fees. Tenants who believe these contract requirements have not been met may use the complaint contact that § 358-H:3 requires to be named in the contract itself, or may consult a tenant-rights organization to understand available enforcement paths.
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.
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