Landlord & Housing · free generator
New Hampshire Security Deposit Demand Letter
You moved out, you left the place in decent shape, and your deposit still has not come back. In New Hampshire, that is not a judgment call: under New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated, chapter 540-A, section 7, your former landlord generally has 30 days to return your deposit or send an itemized statement of deductions. This generator produces a demand letter that cites RSA 540-A:7 by name, states the legal deadline, and puts your landlord on notice that small claims court — where New Hampshire hears claims up to $10,000 — is the next stop. You do not need perfect English or a lawyer for this; the statute does the arguing. Fill in the blanks below, send it by certified mail, and keep a copy — the letter that cites the actual law is the one that gets answered.
[Date]
[Your former landlord's name]
Re: Demand for return of security deposit — [Rental property address]
Dear [Your former landlord's name],
I am writing to formally demand the return of my security deposit of [Deposit amount] for the property at [Rental property address], which I have vacated and returned to your possession.
Under New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated, chapter 540-A, section 7 (RSA 540-A:7), you were required to return my security deposit, or provide a written itemized statement of any lawful deductions, within 30 days. Yes - a written, itemized list specifying the nature of each damage and repair, plus satisfactory evidence that the repair has been or will be completed, delivered within the 30-day return window. Claims for unpaid rent or other charges must likewise be itemized with particularity. Deductions for normal wear and tear are not permitted.
As of the date of this letter, I have received neither my deposit nor a lawful accounting for it. Please send the full amount of [Deposit amount] to my forwarding address: [Forwarding address for payment].
If I do not receive payment or a lawful written response within 10 days, I will file a claim in small claims court, where New Hampshire law allows claims up to $10,000, and I will pursue every remedy available under RSA 540-A:7, including any statutory damages for wrongful retention.
I would prefer to resolve this without litigation. Prompt payment will close the matter.
Sincerely,
[Your full name]
Know your rights
Security deposit law in New Hampshire
- Return deadline
- 30 days
- Governing statute
- RSA 540-A:7
- When the clock starts
- The landlord must return the deposit, plus any interest due, within 30 days from the termination of the tenancy. If claiming damages, the written itemized list must come within that same 30-day window.
- Itemized deductions
- Yes - a written, itemized list specifying the nature of each damage and repair, plus satisfactory evidence that the repair has been or will be completed, delivered within the 30-day return window. Claims for unpaid rent or other charges must likewise be itemized with particularity.
- If it's wrongfully kept
- Under RSA 540-A:8, a landlord who violates the return rules is liable for twice the sum of the security deposit plus any interest due, less lawful deductions for damages, unpaid rent, or unpaid utility charges.
- Small claims limit
- $10,000 (Circuit Court, District Division)
Worth knowing: New Hampshire caps deposits at one month's rent or $100, whichever is greater, and the landlord must give a signed receipt naming the bank holding the money unless you paid by personal, bank, government, or nonprofit-agency check. If the deposit is held a year or longer, you are owed interest at the regular savings-account rate of the institution where it sits. The law does not cover a single-family house rented by an owner with no other rental property, or units in an owner-occupied building of five units or fewer - but that small-landlord exemption disappears for any unit occupied by a tenant 60 or older.
Last reviewed August 2026 · General information, not legal advice · Read the statute
Field notes
Three tips before you send
- Send it by certified mail with a return receipt — that dated record is the first exhibit a New Hampshire small claims judge will ask about. Keep a copy with your move-out photos and lease.
- The landlord must return the deposit, plus any interest due, within 30 days from the termination of the tenancy. If claiming damages, the written itemized list must come within that same 30-day window.
- If the deadline has already passed, skip the text-message negotiation. Filing in small claims ($10,000 (Circuit Court, District Division)) usually costs under $75, and most landlords pay between the summons and the hearing.
Other states
Deposit letters for every state
Straight answers
Questions people ask
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in New Hampshire?
The landlord must return the deposit, plus any interest due, within 30 days from the termination of the tenancy. If claiming damages, the written itemized list must come within that same 30-day window. The governing statute is New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated, chapter 540-A, section 7. Yes - a written, itemized list specifying the nature of each damage and repair, plus satisfactory evidence that the repair has been or will be completed, delivered within the 30-day return window. Claims for unpaid rent or other charges must likewise be itemized with particularity.
What can I recover if my landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit in New Hampshire?
Under RSA 540-A:8, a landlord who violates the return rules is liable for twice the sum of the security deposit plus any interest due, less lawful deductions for damages, unpaid rent, or unpaid utility charges. These cases are built for small claims court — the New Hampshire limit is $10,000 (Circuit Court, District Division), filing fees are modest, and no lawyer is needed.
Anything else New Hampshire renters should know about deposits?
New Hampshire caps deposits at one month's rent or $100, whichever is greater, and the landlord must give a signed receipt naming the bank holding the money unless you paid by personal, bank, government, or nonprofit-agency check. If the deposit is held a year or longer, you are owed interest at the regular savings-account rate of the institution where it sits. The law does not cover a single-family house rented by an owner with no other rental property, or units in an owner-occupied building of five units or fewer - but that small-landlord exemption disappears for any unit occupied by a tenant 60 or older.
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