New Hampshire bed bug law for landlords: who pays and what you must prove
RSA 540:13-e puts the reasonable cost of bed bug remediation on the New Hampshire landlord, who can recover it only from a tenant found responsible for the infestation. The landlord must prove the tenant was responsible and that the landlord offered a reasonable repayment agreement. A tenant who neither pays nor signs a repayment agreement within 30 days of completed remediation can face eviction for nonpayment of rent.
Who pays for bed bug remediation in New Hampshire?
The landlord bears the reasonable costs of remediation, but may recover them from a tenant who is responsible for the infestation. The statute defines an infestation of bed bugs as bed bugs present in residential rental property, and remediation as landlord action that substantially reduces bed bugs in a unit for at least 60 days. That definition makes the landlord's record of what was done, and when, important.
How does a landlord bill a tenant?
- The landlord alleges the tenant is responsible and bills the tenant in writing for the remediation costs in the tenant's own unit.
- The landlord offers a reasonable repayment agreement.
- If the tenant neither pays nor signs a repayment agreement within 30 days after remediation is completed, that failure can be grounds for eviction for nonpayment of rent under RSA 540:2, II(a).
Example a made-up landlord in Manchester finishes remediation on the 10th, with a $900 bill for the tenant's unit. The 30 days run from the 10th. The landlord's bill states $900 and offers a plan of 6 payments of $150 (6 x $150 = $900), so the offer is on paper before the 30 days are up.
What must the landlord prove?
In an eviction or damages action, the landlord must prove both that the tenant was responsible for the infestation and that the landlord offered a reasonable repayment agreement.
There is a rebuttable presumption that the tenant is responsible if there were no bed bug reports in the six months before the tenancy or during it, covering the unit, adjacent or vertically adjacent units in a multi-unit building, or prior tenants in a single-family home. The tenant's own reports do not count for this. A court otherwise weighs the totality of the evidence, including bed bug presence in other units or common areas, where bed bugs were first found, the landlord's earlier remediation in the unit and neighboring units, and whether the tenant had bed bugs at the previous residence.
What records help a New Hampshire owner?
- Reports from other units and common areas, with dates, since they cut against a presumption.
- Where the pest company first found bed bugs.
- Every earlier treatment of the unit and nearby units.
- The written bill, the repayment offer and the date remediation was completed.
This post covers RSA 540:13-e only. New Hampshire has other pest and housing standard rules, including provisions on landlords who fail to investigate infestation reports, so read those too.
What should you tell the tenant up front?
Because the cost question turns on responsibility, say in the lease or a move-in sheet how reports work: tell the landlord promptly, in writing, and give access for the pest company. A tenant who reports quickly leaves a clear record of when bed bugs were first noticed, which matters when a court looks at where they were first found.
How DoorKeeping fits in New Hampshire
DoorKeeping keeps a New Hampshire bed bug report as a dated work order, so the tenant's notice, your inspection, the pest company's visit and the follow-up are on one record, and the owner sees each one. Reports from every unit sit in one portfolio view, which is the evidence this statute weighs. This is general information, not legal advice. Check the current statute, your local rules and your lease before you act.
Sources
- RSA 540:13-e, Bed Bug Remediation Liability (New Hampshire General Court), read Oct 30, 2026
Questions
- Who pays for bed bugs in a New Hampshire rental?
- The landlord bears the reasonable remediation costs and may recover them from a tenant responsible for the infestation.
- How long does a New Hampshire tenant have to pay a bed bug bill?
- If the tenant neither pays nor signs a repayment agreement within 30 days after remediation is completed, that can be grounds for eviction for nonpayment of rent.
- Is the tenant presumed responsible in New Hampshire?
- There is a rebuttable presumption of tenant responsibility if no bed bug reports were made in the six months before or during the tenancy for the unit, adjacent units or prior tenants. The landlord must still prove responsibility and a repayment offer.