Bridget Letarte

I am a New Hampshire landlord, and I support HB 1336. Under current law, when an applicant narrowly misses income or credit requirements, landlords are often forced to deny them outright or require unreasonable alternatives like large prepaid rent or non-refundable surety bonds. These options limit access to housing and don’t benefit tenants or landlords. HB 1336 creates a fair, transparent option: a refundable, interest-bearing security deposit under clearly disclosed, moderate screening standards. It allows landlords to manage risk responsibly while giving qualified tenants a realistic path to approval and an opportunity to recover the extra deposit as their situation improves. This bill expands housing access without reducing tenant protections. I urge the committee to support HB 1336.