N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 147: § 147:7-a
Notice to Owner.
Operative Text
As a prerequisite to the use of the alternative abatement cost collection procedure under RSA 147:7-b, any notice or order given pursuant to RSA 147:4, 147:11, 147:17, or 147:17-a, shall be in writing and subject to the following requirements: I. The notice shall contain: (a) A description of the nuisance or other danger to the public health, including the date of any inspection. (b) A statement of what corrective action is required, and a reasonable time, in light of the seriousness of the nuisance or other danger to health, within which that action must be taken. (c) A statement that failure to take the corrective action within that time may result in corrective action being taken by the municipality, and that if this occurs, the municipality's costs shall constitute a lien against the real estate, enforceable in the same manner as real estate taxes, including possible loss of the property, if not paid. II. The notice shall be sent by registered mail, return receipt requested, to the last known post-office address of the current owner, if known, or of the person against whom taxes are assessed for the property, and to any tenant, occupant, owner's agent, or other person known by the health officer to exercise control over the premises.
Under N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 147:7-a, before a municipality can use the alternative cost-recovery process to bill a property owner for abating a public health nuisance, it must first issue a written notice that meets specific requirements. That notice must describe the nuisance, specify what corrective action is needed and set a reasonable deadline, and warn the owner that municipal action and a property lien—potentially leading to loss of the property—may follow if the deadline is missed. The notice must be sent by registered mail with return receipt to the owner's last known address and to any tenants, occupants, agents, or others known to control the premises.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers should understand that § 147:7-a establishes the written-notice prerequisites that a municipality must satisfy before it can pursue lien-based cost recovery against a property. A compliant operator who receives such a notice generally reviews the described nuisance carefully, notes the stated deadline for corrective action, and takes documented steps to address the identified condition within that timeframe. Keeping current mailing addresses on file with local tax authorities helps ensure that any notice sent by registered mail under this section actually reaches the responsible party.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 147:7-a requires that any written notice issued under this process also be sent to tenants or occupants known to the local health officer to exercise control over the premises. This means tenants may receive direct notification of a public health nuisance and the municipality's intent to act if it is not corrected, giving them an opportunity to be aware of conditions affecting their home. Tenants who believe a landlord is failing to address a cited nuisance may wish to contact the local health officer, review the notice they received, or reach out to a tenant-rights organization for information about available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 20, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
Rules and statutes cited by this regulation
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation