N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 540-C: § 540-C:4
Civil Penalty.
Operative Text
Any person who directs a law enforcement officer to remove a tenant from a dwelling unit covered by this chapter without complying with RSA 540-C:3, or misrepresents to a law enforcement officer that the unit is a covered unit under this chapter shall be liable to any tenant who is involuntarily removed from the unit by the law enforcement officer in an amount equivalent to 3 months rent, plus costs and attorneys fees.
New Hampshire law under N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 540-C:4 establishes civil liability for anyone who directs a law enforcement officer to remove a tenant from a covered dwelling unit without following the required procedures in § 540-C:3, or who falsely represents to a law enforcement officer that a unit qualifies as a covered unit under the chapter. When a tenant is involuntarily removed as a result of either of these actions, the responsible party faces a financial penalty equal to three months' rent, plus the tenant's court costs and attorney's fees. This provision is designed to deter improper or deceptive use of law enforcement to circumvent the eviction process.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 540-C should ensure that any removal of a tenant through law enforcement strictly follows the procedural requirements set out in § 540-C:3 before directing an officer to act. Compliant operators verify that a unit's status under the chapter is accurately represented to law enforcement at all times, avoiding any mischaracterization of whether a unit is covered. Failure to follow these steps can expose the directing party to liability for three months' rent plus costs and attorney's fees for each affected tenant.
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:4, tenants who are involuntarily removed from a covered dwelling unit by a law enforcement officer — because someone either bypassed the procedures in § 540-C:3 or misrepresented the unit's status — may have a civil claim for damages equal to three months' rent, plus costs and attorney's fees. Tenants in this situation can raise this provision as a basis for a civil action in court, and may also wish to document the circumstances of the removal carefully. Consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office familiar with New Hampshire housing law can help tenants understand the options available to them under this provision.
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