July 30, 2021
Eviction Moratorium To Expire Saturday
The federal eviction moratorium is scheduled to expire Saturday, July 31.
Rental assistance is available to tenants in New Hampshire to cover past-due and future rent payments; utilities, such as electricity, home heating costs, water, sewer, trash; and other housing-related costs such as internet and relocation expenses associated directly or indirectly with COVID-19. Relocation expenses – including rental application fees, utility hook-up fees, and security deposits – are also eligible.
To qualify for assistance, tenants must have a household income at 80 percent or less than the area median, have had their income reduced or have incurred financial hardship due to the pandemic, or risk losing housing due to rent obligations. Landlords may apply on behalf of their tenants as long as they receive permission from that tenant.
For more information on how to apply, contact your local Community Action Program by clicking here, or the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority (NHHFA) by clicking here. NHHFA also has a FAQ for landlords which can be found here.
Landlords should also be aware that the New Hampshire legislature passed, and Governor just signed, Senate Bill 126, which allows tenants who’ve been served an eviction notice to have until the date of their eviction hearing to repay all debts to their landlord. If the tenant is able to come up with those payments before his or her eviction hearing, any possessory action based solely on nonpayment of rent must be dismissed.