New Hampshire is experiencing a severe housing shortage, with a vacancy rate of just 0.6%. This is far below what’s needed to meet current demand and has led to sharp rent increases. Since 2019, median rent has increased 36.1%, with some counties experiencing much higher increases — Coos (42%), Belknap (44%) and Grafton (67%). The housing crisis has particularly affected our aging residents, who are the fastest-growing age group among the unhoused population. More than one in five older households are renters, many living on fixed incomes that haven't kept pace with the rising costs. As our population of older adults grows, so does the need to increase affordable, accessible housing options and maintain New Hampshire's existing tenant protections. We need state policies that expand housing security for our aging residents, not ones that restrict it.
HB 60 would remove existing tenant protections and put all Granite State renters at increased risk of eviction, especially older adults and people with disabilities who already face significant housing challenges.
About the Bill
For over 40 years, New Hampshire law has protected renters from arbitrary evictions. HB 60 threatens to remove these protections by allowing landlords to evict tenants without providing a reason when their lease ends. This is known as a “no-cause eviction.”
No-cause evictions put all Granite State renters at risk, and the consequences can be particularly harmful for older adults. They can lead to:
- Financial hardship: Older adults often live on fixed or declining incomes, making it especially difficult to find housing. The percentage of income that older adults spend on housing is at an all-time high. Those who are fortunate enough to find housing may not be able to afford the costs associated with moving.
- Health impacts: The consequences of homelessness are particularly severe for older adults who are managing chronic health conditions and mobility limitations. Research shows that homelessness severely impacts older adults and can lead to accelerated health complications.
- Displacement from communities: When older adults are forced to move, they often lose access to crucial support networks like health care providers, community services and resources, and established social connections.
These compounding factors make evictions especially devastating for older adults who rely on stability to maintain their independence and well-being.
Take Action
Contact Your Lawmakers
Contact your Senators and Representatives and urge them to vote NO on HB 60.
Look up contact information for your lawmakers below:
Bill Status
HB 60 passed both the NH House of Representatives and Senate. The Senate amended the bill, and the House sent it to a Committee of Conference to work through the differences. The Committee of Conference signed off on a compromise that includes some provisions to reduce harm, but the bill still puts tenants at risk. Next, the House and Senate will cast a final yes-or-no vote on the bill. If both chambers approve the Committee of Conference report, the bill will advance to the Governor's desk, but if either chamber votes "no," the bill will be killed. Contact your Representatives and Senators and urge them to vote down the bill.
Bill Progress (HB 60):
January 21: House Housing Committee held a public hearing on the bill.
January 28: House Housing Committee voted on a recommendation to pass the bill in a 10-7 vote.
February 6: House of Representatives passed HB 60 in a 217-139 vote.
May 13: Senate Commerce Committee held a public hearing for the
bill and then immediately voted on a recommendation to pass the bill in a 4-2 vote.
June 5: Senate passed HB 60 with amendment in a voice vote; HB 60 went back to the House of Representatives, which requested a Committee of Conference.
June 17: Committee of Conference compromised on a version of the bill that includes some provisions to reduce harm.
Next: NH House of Representatives and Senate will cast a final yes-or-no vote on the bill - scheduled for June 26.
