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NH Home Improvement Contracts & Complaints

Updated 2026-10-10 · 7 min read

What to put in a NH contractor contract, your right to cancel, and how to complain to the Attorney General, small claims court or OPLC when a job goes bad.

Start with a written contract

A clear written contract is the best evidence you'll have if a job goes wrong. The FTC recommends getting one even where it isn't legally required, and making sure every blank space is filled in before you sign. Our hiring checklist covers vetting and insurance. This guide focuses on the paperwork and on what to do when a job goes bad.

Items worth having in writing:

The contractor's legal business name, address, phone number, and license number if the trade is licensed (see which NH contractors need a license)
A detailed scope of work, with materials, brands and models where they matter
Estimated start and completion dates
The total price and a payment schedule
Who pulls the permits and schedules inspections (see our building permit guide)
How changes are handled. Ask for each change order in writing, with its price, before the extra work starts
Any warranty, and every promise the contractor made in conversation

Deposits and payments

The FTC's advice is simple: don't pay the whole cost up front, and don't make the final payment until the work is finished and you're satisfied (FTC). Many homeowners tie each payment to a finished stage of work rather than to a date. Pay by check or credit card so there's a record. The FTC warns against paying by wire transfer, gift card, payment app, cryptocurrency or cash, because that money is very hard to get back (FTC).

Keep the contract, change orders, receipts, photos and letters together. If you ever file a complaint or go to court, you'll need them.

Your right to cancel

Two cancellation laws can apply when you sign away from the contractor's place of business, such as at your kitchen table. The details are in our hiring checklist. In short:

NH's home solicitation law, RSA 361-B, covers sales of $150 or more where the seller solicits you somewhere other than its permanent place of business. You can cancel before midnight of the third business day after the transaction by written notice. The seller has to return your payments within 15 days.
The federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule gives three business days for many sales made at your home ($25 or more) or at a seller's temporary location ($130 or more). It doesn't cover sales needed to meet an emergency, or repair work on your property that you asked for, though extra items you buy beyond that request are covered.

Watch for liens

Under NH's lien law (RSA 447), people who supply labor or materials for a building can have a lien on the building and land, and in some cases that includes unpaid subcontractors and suppliers. The lien lasts 120 days after the work or materials are provided. Before big payments, many homeowners ask for written lien waivers showing subcontractors and suppliers have been paid. The checklist explains the notice rules; for more, talk to a NH attorney.

When a job goes wrong: try the contractor first

Raise the problem directly and give the contractor a fair chance to fix it. If phone calls don't work, the FTC suggests following up with a letter sent by certified mail with a return receipt requested, and keeping copies (FTC). Describe the problem, what you want done, and a reasonable deadline. Written notice can also help later, since the NH Department of Justice notes that showing a judge you gave the other side a reasonable chance to resolve the problem may help your case.

File a complaint with the Attorney General

NH's Consumer Protection Act (RSA 358-A) makes unfair or deceptive business practices unlawful, and the Attorney General's Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau enforces it. According to the Bureau's complaint page:

Complaints must be in writing on the Bureau's consumer complaint form. You can file online or print the form and mail or email it. Include as much detail and supporting paperwork as you can.
An attorney reviews each complaint. If it alleges an unfair or deceptive practice, the Bureau may send it to the business and ask for a written response.
It isn't a formal legal process, and filing doesn't guarantee a response, an investigation or a resolution. The Bureau is a law enforcement agency and can't represent you or give you legal advice.
Questions, or reporting a scam: the Consumer Protection Hotline is 1-888-468-4454 or (603) 271-3641, weekdays 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (as of October 2026).

Small claims court

If the complaint process doesn't fix things, the Bureau suggests talking to a private lawyer or using small claims court. In NH, a small claim is a case that doesn't involve title to real estate and asks for $10,000 or less, not counting interest and costs (RSA 503:1). The NH Judicial Branch says small claims are handled in the Circuit Court's District Division, and:

Electronic filing is mandatory for small claims. Self-represented people file through the court's online system.
You file in the district division where you or the defendant lives (different rules apply if the defendant is out of state).
Claims over $5,000 go to mandatory mediation. If the claim is over $1,500, the defendant may ask for a jury trial, which moves the case to Superior Court.
You don't need a lawyer, though either side may have one (NH DOJ).
Separately, the Consumer Protection Act lets a person harmed by an unfair or deceptive practice sue for actual damages or $1,000, whichever is greater, with more for willful violations (RSA 358-A:10). Ask a NH attorney whether it fits your situation.

Licensed trades: complain to OPLC

Electricians, plumbers and gas fitters are licensed by the state through the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification. If you believe a licensee committed professional misconduct, you can submit OPLC's online enforcement complaint form from its File a Complaint page. OPLC asks for who was involved, their profession, when and where it happened, and what happened, plus your contact information and whether you've tried to resolve it with the licensee. A complaint can lead to discipline against the license, but OPLC doesn't prosecute crimes. If you suspect criminal activity, OPLC says to report it to local police. You can check a license first with the OPLC license lookup.

Code problems: your town's building official

If you think work violates the building code, contact your town or city building department. Under RSA 155-A:7, the local enforcement agency enforces the state building code. In a town with no local enforcement agency or qualified third party, the State Fire Marshal may enforce it if the town asks in writing. A building official deals with code compliance, not refunds or contract disputes.

The BBB is not a government agency

You can file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, but know what it is. The BBB describes itself as a nonprofit that is not a government agency and has no regulatory power. It's funded by dues from accredited businesses, and it says it can't force a business to act. For enforcement, go to the Attorney General's office. Before hiring, you can also search the Bureau's own business complaint lookup, which shows complaints filed with it since January 1, 2006 and how they were resolved.

After a storm: scam warning signs

Storm damage brings out door-to-door "contractors." The FTC's weather emergency guidance lists these warning signs:

They claim they don't need to be licensed for the work
They ask you to sign over your insurance check. Instead, the FTC suggests asking your bank or credit union about a Certificate of Completion, so the bank pays the contractor in stages after you approve each one
They want payment in full up front, or ask you to sign a contract with blanks in it
They offer to get you FEMA money for a fee. FEMA doesn't charge application fees
Someone claiming to be from the utility calls or knocks saying equipment needs repair, then asks for payment. The FTC says not to pay, and to ask for identification and verify who you're dealing with (FTC consumer alert)

Where to report a scam

Report suspected scams to the NH Consumer Protection Hotline and to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws and procedures change, so confirm the details with the agency or court involved, and talk to a NH attorney about your specific situation.