N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 540-C: § 540-C:2
Lease Required.
Operative Text
In order to evict an occupant from a dwelling unit covered by this chapter without fulfilling the requirements of RSA 540, the owner or the owner's authorized agent and the tenant shall sign a lease which: I. States the date by which the tenant shall vacate the premises; and II. Informs the tenant that if he or she remains on the premises after the expiration of the lease without the written permission of the owner or the owner's authorized agent, the tenant may be removed from the premises by a law enforcement officer without any judicial process.
New Hampshire law under N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 540-C:2 establishes that a specific type of written lease is required before an owner can remove an occupant through the expedited process described in RSA 540-C, bypassing the standard eviction procedures of RSA 540. That lease must clearly state the date the tenant is expected to vacate and must explicitly notify the tenant that staying past that date without written owner permission could result in removal by law enforcement without a court proceeding. This provision sets the foundational paperwork requirement that makes the entire RSA 540-C framework available to property owners.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers who wish to use the streamlined removal process available under N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 540-C:2 generally ensure that any qualifying lease contains two specific elements: a clearly stated vacate date and an explicit written notice to the tenant about the consequences of holding over without written permission. Operators who rely on this chapter typically review their lease templates carefully to confirm both required disclosures are present before the agreement is signed by all parties. Without a lease that meets these requirements, the expedited removal process under RSA 540-C is not available, and the standard RSA 540 eviction procedures would apply instead.
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. § 540-C:2, tenants have a right to receive a written lease that clearly discloses both the vacate date and the specific warning that remaining after that date without written owner permission could lead to removal by law enforcement without a court hearing. If a tenant believes they were subject to a removal process under RSA 540-C without having signed a lease containing these required disclosures, that absence may be relevant to any dispute about the legality of the removal. Tenants in this situation may find it useful to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand what options 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 In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation