Your landlord must keep your status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking completely confidential. This includes any written notification you give regarding that status. The only time the landlord is allowed to share (disclose) this information to someone else is when:

1. you, or your household member who is the victim, ask in writing that the information be shared or agree in writing that it can be shared;
2. the information is relevant and necessary for an eviction case or a court hearing about the termination of housing assistance; or
3. it is otherwise required by law.¹

¹ N.H. Rev. Stat §§ 540:2(VII)(e); 540:11-b(II)

In order to end your lease without penalty, the victim, meaning you or your household member, must give the landlord one of the following:

1. a copy of a protective order against the abuser or proof that a petition was filed;
2. a police report for the domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking;
3. written proof (verification) from a law enforcement official, victim’s advocate, attorney, or healthcare provider that you or your household member is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking; or
4. a signed self-certification form provided by the circuit court that describes the abuse and swears that the information is true.¹

¹ N.H. Rev. Stat § 540:11-b(I)(c); see also the New Hampshire Judicial Branch website

If you follow the requirements of this law, you only need to pay rent through the day you move out or the day you give notice that you will be ending the lease, whichever is later. The landlord can hold your security deposit through the last day that all tenants under your lease have left. Then the deposit must be returned to you within 30 days, unless the landlord can keep some or all of it according to the law.¹ This means that the landlord may be able to keep the deposit if there are valid reasons to do so, but s/he cannot keep it just because you ended the lease early under this law.

¹ N.H. Rev. Stat §§ 540:11-b(IV); 540-A:7(I)

This law prevents a landlord from evicting you because you are a victim of abuse, but it does not stop a landlord from ending (terminating) your lease, refusing to renew your lease, or evicting you for any other valid legal reason.¹ Even if you are a victim of abuse, your landlord can end your lease or refuse to renew your lease for any of the following reasons:

1. you do not pay your rent, including arrears you owe for past rent, but see the “Note” below;²  
2. you, your household members, or your guests substantially damage the home;
3. you do not follow the important (material) terms of your lease agreement;
4. you or your family members behave in a way that harms the health or safety of the landlord, the landlord’s representatives, or other tenants in the building;
5. you do not accept a suitable temporary relocation that becomes necessary due to lead paint abatement;
6. you refuse to prepare your home for treatment for insect or rodent infestation after your landlord gives you reasonable written notice of the required preparations and the amount of time they will take;
7. your co-tenant or another occupant in your home is accused of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking and you are terminating your lease;
8. other “good cause,” which can include legitimate business or economic reasons.³ 

Note: The landlord cannot evict you for non-payment of rent if all of the following are true:

• The landlord agreed to pay for utilities, but didn’t; so, you had to make payments to stop your utilities from being cut off;
• The amount you owe in rent is less than the amount you are paying to keep those utilities accounts open; and
• You have receipts or other proof of payment for what you have paid to the utility company to maintain your service.⁴  

¹ N.H. Rev. Stat § 540:2(VII)(a)
² N.H. Rev. Stat § 540:2(VII)(f)
³ N.H. Rev. Stat § 540:2(II), (V)
⁴ N.H. Rev. Stat § 540:2(VI)