What are the laws regarding locking tenants out of their rental properties?
In New Hampshire, landlord and tenant laws spell out the duties and limitations of both parties in a rental agreement. According to Chapter 540-A of the New Hampshire Statutes, a landlord may not deny a tenant access to their rental property or prevent them from entering. The law prohibits a landlord from locking out tenants from their rental property or even threatening to do so. This includes changing locks, removing doors, or blocking entry with furniture or other objects. If a tenant breaches a rental agreement, such as not paying rent, a landlord may take legal action to evict the tenant. However, the landlord must follow the terms of the lease, as well as the process outlined in New Hampshire law. The landlord must provide a written notice to the tenant that the lease is being terminated. Then the landlord must file a formal complaint in a court of law and receive a judgment in order to legally remove the tenant from the rental property. Therefore, a landlord cannot legally lock out a tenant without following the proper procedure. Locking out a tenant is considered an illegal act of retaliatory eviction, and it could result in the landlord having to pay damages or facing other legal repercussions.
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