N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 540-B: § 540-B:2
Nature of Tenancy.
Operative Text
Every tenancy shall be deemed to be at will, and the rent payable as agreed, unless a written contract defines the terms of the tenancy differently. Except as otherwise provided, a verbal rental agreement shall be permitted.
Under N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 540-B:2, any rental arrangement for shared facilities or single-family rentals covered by this chapter is automatically treated as a tenancy-at-will unless a written contract establishes different terms. Rent is due as the parties have agreed. Verbal rental agreements are generally allowed, though a written contract can override the default at-will classification.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 540-B:2, operators who want terms beyond the default at-will arrangement — such as a fixed lease period or specific rent-payment schedules — generally put those terms in a written contract signed by both parties. Without a written agreement, the tenancy is governed by the statutory at-will default, meaning either party can typically end it with proper notice. Keeping clear written records of any agreed-upon rent amount and tenancy terms is a common practice among compliant operators under this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 540-B:2 establishes that, without a written lease, a tenancy is at-will and rent is owed as verbally agreed — which means tenants have rights tied to that default framework, including protections around notice before termination. If a landlord's actions appear inconsistent with the at-will terms or any verbal agreement in place, tenants can document the arrangement and explore options such as contacting a tenant-rights organization or raising the statutory default as a relevant factor in any dispute. Because verbal agreements are permitted under § 540-B:2 but can be harder to prove, understanding what was agreed upon and how it is documented can matter in any proceeding.
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