N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 358-A: § 358-A:1
Definitions.
Operative Text
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meaning: I. "Person" shall include, where applicable, natural persons, corporations, trusts, partnerships, incorporated or unincorporated associations, and any other legal entity. II. "Trade" and "commerce" shall include the advertising, offering for sale, sale, or distribution of any services and any property, tangible or intangible, real, personal or mixed, and any other article, commodity, or thing of value wherever situate, and shall include any trade or commerce directly or indirectly affecting the people of this state. III. "Documentary material" shall include the original or a copy of any book, record, report, memorandum, paper, communication, tabulation, map, chart, photograph, mechanical transcription, or other tangible document or recording, wherever situate. IV. "Examination of documentary material" shall include the inspection, study, or copying of any such material, and the taking of testimony under oath or acknowledgement in respect of any such documentary material or copy thereof. IV-a. "Gift certificate" means a promise given in exchange for payment to provide the bearer, upon presentation, goods or services in a specified amount. V. "Going out of business sale" means any sale advertised, represented or held forth under the designation of: "going out of business," "close out," "quitting business," "discontinuance of business," "selling out," "liquidation," "lost our lease," "must vacate," "forced out," "removal," "branch store discontinuance sale," "building coming down," "end," "final days," "last days," "lease expires," "we give up sale," "we quit sale," "reorganization sale," or any other advertising or designation by any other expression similar to any of the foregoing giving notice to the public that the sale will precede the termination of a business or the abandonment of a business location.
New Hampshire Revised Statutes § 358-A:1 establishes the foundational vocabulary for the state's Consumer Protection Act. It defines key terms such as "person," "trade and commerce," "documentary material," "gift certificate," and "going out of business sale" that govern how the rest of Chapter 358-A is interpreted and applied. These definitions are broad by design, covering a wide range of entities, transactions, and business activities that touch New Hampshire residents.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in New Hampshire should be aware that under § 358-A:1, the terms "trade" and "commerce" are defined broadly enough to encompass the advertising, leasing, and sale of real property. This means that rental-related advertising and business practices can fall within the scope of Chapter 358-A's consumer protection rules. Operators who conduct or advertise any form of "going out of business" or liquidation activity related to their real estate business should also note that § 358-A:1 provides an expansive list of covered designations for such sales.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants in New Hampshire benefit from knowing that § 358-A:1 defines "trade and commerce" to include services and real property transactions, which means rental housing activities can be subject to the state's Consumer Protection Act. If a landlord's advertising or business practices seem deceptive, this definitional provision establishes the framework under which a complaint or legal claim might be pursued. Tenants seeking to understand whether a specific practice falls under Chapter 358-A may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service familiar with New Hampshire consumer protection law.
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
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation