Demand letters in New Hampshire.
In New Hampshire, landlords must return a deposit within 30 days, and the Small Claims (Circuit Court – District Division) hears claims up to $10,000. Here's the law you need — and a generator that cites it for you.
New Hampshire demand letter facts at a glance
30 days
$10,000
Check the filing court’s current fee schedule; service charges may be additional
3 years
3 years
Set annually (prime-based; recently around 7–8% per year, pre- and post-judgment).
Security deposit demand letters in New Hampshire
If your former landlord is holding your deposit, New Hampshire law is on your side. A landlord must return your security deposit within 30 days, along with an itemized statement of any deductions. Bad-faith retention can expose the landlord to double the amount wrongfully withheld. New Hampshire also requires landlords to pay interest on deposits.
Governing statute: N.H. Rev. Stat. § 540-A:5 to § 540-A:8 · read it
Statutes of limitation in New Hampshire
A demand letter doesn't pause the clock — you must file suit within these windows:
| Written contracts | 3 years |
| Oral contracts | 3 years |
| Personal injury | 3 years |
| Property damage | 3 years |
Small claims court in New Hampshire
The relevant court is Small Claims (Circuit Court – District Division). Limit: $10,000. Filing fee information: Check the filing court’s current fee schedule; service charges may be additional. A dollar limit alone does not establish eligibility; check the court’s claim, venue and service requirements.
Read the limit sourceSmall-claims limit source checked: 2026-09-29. This date does not apply to the other laws on this page.
How New Hampshire compares
The same dispute is worth pursuing in one state and barely worth the paperwork in another. Here is where New Hampshire actually sits.
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Small Claims (Circuit Court – District Division) in New Hampshire: $10,000. Filing fee information: Check the filing court’s current fee schedule; service charges may be additional. Limits are not directly comparable across states because court, plaintiff and claim-specific rules differ.
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New Hampshire sits on the national norm — 30 days for a landlord to return the deposit, 15th tightest of the 51 and level with the 30-day median. Diarise the date you moved out and count from there. Miss it and New Hampshire exposes the landlord to up to 2× the amount withheld, which is the figure to quote in the letter.
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Do not sit on it. New Hampshire allows only 3 years to sue on a written contract — 3 years shorter than the 6-year median for written contracts, and 44th longest of the 51. Oral agreements expire sooner still, at 3 years, and a demand letter does not pause either clock.
Worth putting a number on: withhold $1,500 wrongly in New Hampshire and the exposure reaches $3,000 once the 2× penalty applies, still inside what Small Claims (Circuit Court – District Division) can award. A landlord reading your letter is weighing that figure, not the deposit.
Good to know in New Hampshire
New Hampshire requires deposits returned within 30 days, caps them at one month’s rent or $100 (whichever is greater), and requires interest on deposits held a year or more. Double damages are available for bad-faith retention. Small claims in the Circuit Court’s District Division covers up to $10,000. New Hampshire applies a uniform three-year statute of limitations across contracts, injury, and property, so calendar the deadline carefully.
Common demand letters in New Hampshire
Each generator automatically applies New Hampshire law where it matters.
Security Deposit Demand Letter
A formal letter demanding the return of your security deposit, citing your move-out date and your state’s legal deadline.
Create this letterUnpaid Invoice Demand Letter
A firm final notice that tells a non-paying client exactly what they owe, by when, and what happens if they ignore it.
Create this letterDemand Letter to a Contractor
A formal letter demanding a contractor finish the work, fix defective work, or refund your money under your agreement.
Create this letterDebt Collection Demand Letter
A formal letter demanding repayment of money you are owed on a personal loan, IOU, or other unpaid debt.
Create this letterLandlord Demand Letter to Tenant
A formal letter from a landlord demanding a tenant pay unpaid rent, repair damage, or cure a lease violation.
Create this letterProperty Damage Demand Letter
A formal letter demanding payment from whoever damaged your property, backed by repair estimates and photos.
Create this letterUnpaid Wages Demand Letter
A formal letter demanding an employer pay wages, overtime, or a final paycheck you earned and are owed.
Create this letterNew Hampshire demand letter FAQ
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in New Hampshire?
What is the small claims court limit in New Hampshire?
How long do I have to sue in New Hampshire?
Do I have to send a demand letter before filing in New Hampshire?
Send a demand letter that cites New Hampshire law.
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