TITLE LV
PROCEEDINGS IN SPECIAL CASES
CHAPTER 540
ACTIONS AGAINST TENANTS
Section 540:13-e
540:13-e Infestation of Bed Bugs: Liability for Costs of Remediation. –
I. In this section:
(a) "Infestation of bed bugs" means the presence of bed bugs in real property rented for residential purposes.
(b) "Remediation" means action taken by the landlord that substantially reduces the presence of bed bugs in a dwelling unit for at least 60 days.
II. The landlord shall bear the reasonable costs of remediation of an infestation of bed bugs, but may recover those costs if the tenant is responsible for the infestation.
III. If a landlord alleges that a tenant is responsible for an infestation of bed bugs, the landlord may bill the tenant, in writing, for the reasonable costs of remediation of the infestation of bed bugs in the tenant's own unit. If within 30 days of the completion of remediation the tenant has not paid the landlord for the reasonable costs of remediation, or entered into a repayment agreement with the landlord, such failure shall be considered grounds for eviction for nonpayment of rent pursuant to RSA 540:2, II(a).
IV. In an eviction action for nonpayment of rent based on failure to pay the reasonable costs of remediation, or in an action for damages for the reasonable costs of remediation of an infestation of bed bugs, the landlord shall bear the burden of proving both that the tenant was responsible for the infestation and that the landlord offered the tenant the opportunity to enter into a reasonable repayment agreement.
V. In an eviction action for nonpayment of rent based on failure to pay the reasonable costs of remediation of an infestation of bed bugs, or in an action for damages for the reasonable costs of remediation of an infestation of bed bugs: