How to Sue Your Landlord in New Hampshire Small Claims Court

When You Can Sue a Landlord in Small Claims

New Hampshire small claims court handles money disputes up to $10,000. That covers most tenant-landlord monetary claims: a withheld security deposit, repairs the landlord promised and never made, damage to your belongings from a maintenance failure, or overbilled utilities.

What it does not cover is eviction disputes (those go through RSA Chapter 540), getting the landlord to fix something going forward, or recovering personal property left behind. Small claims is strictly money damages.

If your landlord owes you money and the amount is $10,000 or less, you have standing to file.

Start with a Demand Letter

A demand letter is not legally required before filing, but it accomplishes two things: it gives the landlord a final chance to pay, and it creates evidence that you tried to resolve the dispute. Send it by certified mail with return receipt, and keep the tracking confirmation.

Include the specific amount owed, the factual basis (lease provision, RSA statute, or both), a firm deadline of 10 to 14 days, and a statement that you will file a small claims complaint if the landlord does not pay. For security deposit claims, RSA 540-A:7 gives the landlord 30 days from termination of the tenancy to return the deposit and pay any interest due; if the landlord deducts for damage, it must provide a written itemized list. RSA 540-A:8 sets the tenant's remedy for noncompliance.

Filing Your Complaint on TurboCourt

All New Hampshire small claims cases are filed electronically through TurboCourt — paper filings are not accepted without a court-approved exemption. The filing fee is $125 for claims up to $5,000 or $180 for claims between $5,001 and $10,000.

When the TurboCourt interview asks you to name the defendant, use the landlord's legal name, not a property management company's trade name. If your landlord operates through an LLC, search the Secretary of State QuickStart database to get the exact registered name and registered agent address. Naming the wrong entity can make any judgment you win unenforceable.

In the factual statement, keep it straightforward: when the tenancy started, when it ended, what the landlord owes and why, and how much. For deposit claims, reference RSA 540-A:7 (the 30-day return deadline) and RSA 540-A:8 (the remedy for noncompliance).

What Happens After You File

The court mails your complaint to the landlord by first-class mail. If the court reports returned mail, you have 60 days from that notice to provide a corrected address or file a motion requesting an Order of Notice for personal service by a sheriff or other authorized process server — miss that window and the case is dismissed without prejudice.

Once served, the landlord has until the return date to respond or file a counterclaim. For claims over $5,000, the court orders mandatory mediation before trial. Claims at $5,000 or under get voluntary mediation at the pretrial hearing.

If the landlord does not appear, the court can enter a default judgment if you have filed the required Military Service Statement.

Collecting the Judgment

Winning a judgment does not automatically put money in your account. If the landlord refuses to pay, you can file a Writ of Execution ($40 filing fee) to authorize the County Sheriff to seize assets, or file a Motion for Periodic Payments ($25) to set up a court-ordered payment schedule. You can also record a judgment lien at the county Registry of Deeds against any New Hampshire real property the landlord owns.

For judgments entered in 2026, the annual simple interest rate is 5.7%. Interest accrues from the filing date through judgment and continues after judgment until it is satisfied.

Get the Complete Filing Toolkit

Our New Hampshire Small Claims Filing Guide walks you through every step — from verifying your claim fits the $10,000 limit through collecting after the hearing, with a demand letter tracker, service log, and post-judgment timeline calendar included.

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