One month's rent or $100. The return rule is 30 days. The controlling text is N.H. Rev. Stat. § 540-A / 540-B.
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New Hampshire's deposit ceiling
One month's rent or $100.
The cap is one month's rent or $100, whichever is greater.
New Hampshire's return deadline
30 days.
You have 30 days after the tenancy ends to return the deposit with an itemized statement of any deductions and any interest owed.
The itemized statement rule
An itemized statement of damages and their cost is required whenever you keep any part of the deposit. Deliver it with the balance within 30 days.
Account and interest rules
Deposits must be held separately from your own funds, and a deposit held for a year or more accrues interest payable to the tenant at the rate paid by the institution.
Exposure for wrongful withholding
Up to 2x for bad-faith retention.
A landlord who retains a deposit in violation of the statute can be liable for twice the amount wrongfully withheld. The separate-holding and interest rules matter for longer tenancies, so track interest as it accrues.
Compare New Hampshire with neighboring states
- Maine: two months' rent; return rule: 30 days.
- Vermont: no statutory limit; return rule: 14 days.
- Massachusetts: one month's rent; return rule: 30 days.
Verified against N.H. Rev. Stat. § 540-A / 540-B and official state sources in July 2026. Before withholding money, check the current statute text or ask a local landlord-tenant attorney. General information, not legal advice.