07-02-2025
Landlords do well during first House business session
Feb. 6—Landlords and housing developers had a good day in the New Hampshire House of Representatives Thursday after the House approved strengthening no-fault eviction laws and rejected limits on those selling or owning private rental property.
State Rep. Joseph Alexander, R-Goffstown, chairman of the now permanent House Committee on Housing, said during the debate the market is "volatile and uncertain" in waving off attempts by House Democrats to impose new limits on property sales.
The most significant change that passed gives landlords an affirmative right to give tenants a 60-day notice of intent to evict once a lease has expired and the two parties can't reach an agreement on the future rent or terms of occupancy.
"This strikes a fair balance, giving housing providers the ability to plan for the future while ensuring tenants receive the necessary time to transition," Alexander said.
"HB 60 fosters a more predictable rental market by reducing sudden displacements and promoting responsible property management."
With a vacancy rate of .8% statewide — less than 20% the amount needed for a healthy market — House Democrats said this stricter tenancy standard would throw vulnerable families out on the street.
"I am a small mom and pop landlord. Just the people this bill is trying to protect. I know how difficult the eviction process can be for small landlords," said Rep. David Paige, D-Conway.
"This bill would do more harm than good and at the worst possible time."
The House rejected postponing the change until the vacancy rate was at either 2.5% or 5%.
"This has been working for decades. The question is why now when people are facing housing insecurity at unprecedented levels," said Rep. Ellen Read, D-Newmarket.
The House passed the bill, 217-139.
Issue underscores House GOP cushion
The legislation revealed the cushion that House Republicans have after gaining more than 25 net seats in last Nov. 5 election.
During 2023-2024, the House GOP had the tiniest minority in more than 150 years.
A year ago, this bill with a tougher 30-day notice narrowly cleared the House, 194-180; the Senate sent it into study, killing it until 2025.
With Republicans now holding a 16-8 supermajority in the Senate, the legislation stands an even better chance of getting to the desk of Gov. Kelly Ayotte.
The House rejected two bills from House Democrats, one to require property owners give right of first refusal to a tenant before selling their multi-family housing (HB 444) and the other to restrict the right of corporations to own residential property in the state (HB 623).
The debate on both became charged when GOP legislators tried to brand the bills as extreme attempts at government control.
"The bill is fundamentally socialist in nature and undermines the principles of the market and home ownership," Rep. Dick Thackston, R-Troy, said about the right of first refusal bill.
Rep. Matthew Hicks, D-Concord, said House GOP leaders weren't open to compromising on the issue.
"This sends a message to our constituents that we don't really care about housing," Hicks said.
Alexander said the legislation the House passed that might help the most is a bipartisan bill (HB 399) to create a commission to study the state's zoning enabling act that turns 100 years old this year.
The enabling act that started as five principles has grown to hundreds of pages of regulations and court decisions on the topic, Alexander said.
The House approved that one on a voice vote.
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