Jaran R. Blessing
Attorney
Landlord Tenant Issues
We help landlords and tenants with leases and agreements, notices, non-payment issues, security deposits, property damage questions, and other landlord tenant matters that benefit from steady local counsel.
Whether you are a landlord or a tenant, it is important for you to know what your rights are in the situation. We can help guide you with leases and agreements, notices, and other practical questions that arise as a tenancy moves forward.
Some matters are straightforward. A party may need help reviewing a lease, understanding responsibilities for repairs, or deciding what a notice should say. Other matters involve non-payment, security deposits, property damage, occupancy questions, or the steps that follow when a tenancy is breaking down.
Leases, Notices, and Day-to-Day Questions
Many landlord tenant issues can be addressed more effectively when they are reviewed early. A lease should be clear enough to be followed in practice. Notices should be prepared carefully. Expectations about payment, upkeep, and use of the property should be documented in a way that reduces confusion later on.
Landlord Rights and Tenant Rights
Both landlords and tenants have important rights and obligations. Depending on the situation, the issue may involve non-payment, unsafe living conditions, property damage, or disagreement over the condition of the premises at move-out. Sometimes the most useful first step is simply to understand where each side stands.
Eviction Notices and Court Papers
If you have been served with a Landlord and Tenant Writ, it is important to act quickly. That means the court eviction process has begun, and the timeline can move fast. A prompt conversation with an attorney can help you understand what papers to gather, what deadlines may apply, and how best to respond.
It is also important to understand the difference between an eviction notice and a court order for possession. In a typical New Hampshire landlord-tenant case under RSA 540, an eviction notice by itself does not give a landlord the right to remove a tenant from the property. As a general rule, a tenant is not lawfully removed unless the court process results in a Writ of Possession that is served by the sheriff after the required judicial process. A landlord generally may not simply change the locks, remove belongings, or cut off access because an eviction notice has been served.
Trying to organize a landlord tenant matter? Our Landlord Tenant Preparation Checklist can help you gather the lease, notices, payment records, and other basic information before contacting the office.
Related Property and Business Concerns
This work can overlap with our Real Estate Transactions practice, especially where ownership, transfers, or recorded documents are part of the background. It can also connect with Business Law when the property is tied to a small business or family-owned entity.
In a smaller community, landlord tenant matters often affect ongoing relationships as well as property rights. Early, practical advice can sometimes keep a manageable problem from becoming a much larger one. From Peterborough, our office regularly assists landlords and tenants from Hancock, Jaffrey, Rindge, Wilton, Dublin, Marlborough, Harrisville, Keene, Milford, Mason, Greenfield, Greenville, and nearby communities.
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Related services
Real Estate Transactions
Legal help with real estate transactions, deeds, purchase and sale agreements, title questions, and trust or estate-related property transfers.
Business Law
Guidance on business formation, LLC and corporate structure, day-to-day business representation, and succession planning for closely held companies.
Peterborough office
Need help thinking through the next steps?
The Peterborough office can help you review the facts, the documents involved, and the practical options available in your situation.