How can a lease be terminated in the State of New Hampshire?
A tenancy at will (one in which there is no fixed term, such as a month-to-month rental) can be terminated by either party giving the other party 30 days' written notice.
If the tenant is a member of the armed services reserve or the national guard who is called to active duty, or a member of the armed services on active duty who is reassigned to a location out of state, the tenant can give the landlord notice of termination within 7 days of receipt of notice of being called to active duty or being reassigned.
On what grounds can a landlord evict a tenant?
The landlord can evict a tenant for a number of reasons, including:
(a) non-payment of rent;
(b) substantial damage to the premises by the tenant, his/her household or guests;
(c) failure to comply with a material term of the lease;
(d) behavior which adversely affects the health or safety of other tenants, the landlord or others;
(e) other "good cause".
The landlord must first serve the tenant with the appropriate notice to quit. If the tenant does not cure the problem within the allotted time, the landlord can go to court to attempt to have the tenant evicted.
A landlord cannot physically remove a tenant or their belongings, lock a tenant out, cut off or reduce utilities or essential services, or otherwise try to circumvent lawful procedures for eviction by going through the courts.
The landlord cannot threaten or attempt to evict a tenant as retaliation for the tenant making a complaint to any board, agency or authority with respect to the condition of the premises, or for joining a tenant's association, or otherwise protecting his/her rights.
The foregoing summary is provided for information purposes only and is not to be considered legal or business advice. The information may not be complete, accurate or applicable for any particular situation and should not be relied upon.
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