N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 48-A: § 48-A:6-a
Lien for Unpaid Fines.
Operative Text
I. Whenever a court of competent jurisdiction enters a fine against a property owner for violation of a housing code enacted pursuant to this chapter or for violation of the minimum standards set forth in RSA 48-A:14, the amount of said fine shall be a lien against the real property, and such lien, including as part thereof costs and necessary attorneys fees may be foreclosed upon order of the superior court pursuant to a petition for that purpose filed in said court. Such lien may be filed after 45 days following the entry of the fine. II. Notice of said lien shall be filed with the register of deeds for the county in which the real estate is situated, and shall be recorded by the registrar. III. Such lien shall be subordinate to any mortgage, tax lien, or encumberance of record filed prior to the municipality's lien. IV. If the lien authorized by paragraph I is not satisfied within 120 days of the recording of the judgment in the registry of deeds in which the property is located, it may be foreclosed upon in accordance with the process in RSA 48-A:6.
Under N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 48-A:6-a, when a court imposes a fine on a property owner for violating a local housing code or the minimum standards in RSA 48-A:14, that fine automatically becomes a lien on the real property. The lien can be filed with the county register of deeds no sooner than 45 days after the fine is entered, and it includes costs and attorney's fees. If the lien remains unpaid for 120 days after it is recorded, the municipality may pursue foreclosure through the superior court process outlined in RSA 48-A:6. The lien ranks behind any previously recorded mortgages, tax liens, or other encumbrances.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners subject to housing code enforcement under N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 48-A:6-a should be aware that court-imposed fines do not simply remain as monetary judgments — they attach to the real property itself as a lien. Compliant operators generally resolve any outstanding fines well before the 45-day filing window closes to prevent a lien from being recorded with the county register of deeds. Allowing a recorded lien to go unsatisfied for 120 days opens the door to a superior court foreclosure action that can include costs and attorney's fees in addition to the original fine amount.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
For tenants, N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 48-A:6-a is significant because it gives municipalities a powerful tool to compel landlords to address housing code violations — unpaid court fines can become liens that cloud the property's title and ultimately lead to foreclosure. If a property is subject to such a lien, tenants may want to monitor public records at the county register of deeds, where the lien must be officially recorded. Tenants concerned about housing code conditions or the implications of a lien on their rental property can seek information from local tenant-rights organizations or legal aid services familiar with RSA 48-A proceedings.
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
Rules and statutes cited by this regulation
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation