New Hampshire HOA reserve study requirements (2026)
Annual reserve budget disclosure required; no mandated study cycle.
Quick facts
What the law actually requires
New Hampshire's Condominium Act (RSA 356-B) is the primary statute governing condominium associations. Under RSA 356-B:40-c, the board must annually adopt a proposed budget and provide all unit owners a summary that includes reserve allocations and a statement of the basis on which reserves are calculated and funded. This disclosure obligation is mandatory — the board cannot simply omit the reserve line without explaining why.
RSA 356-B:40-c does not, however, require a formal reserve study or mandate a minimum funding level. The statute's focus is transparency: owners must be informed how reserves are determined, not that a specific methodology was used. Public offering statements under RSA 356-B:58 must disclose whether a reserve fund exists and its current status, giving buyers an early signal of the association's financial health.
Non-condominium HOAs in New Hampshire (planned communities, subdivisions with private roads or amenities) are not subject to RSA 356-B. Their reserve obligations come entirely from governing documents and lender requirements. In both cases, the National Reserve Study Standards and FHA/Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac underwriting expectations are the practical floor for reserve planning.
Because no state body enforces reserve funding levels, the most consequential pressure on New Hampshire boards is lender-driven: without a current NRSS-compliant study, units in under-funded buildings can be denied FHA and conforming financing, effectively reducing buyer demand and unit values across the community.
How Apex Reserve Studio handles New Hampshire
Apex Reserve Studio applies its Generic NRSS compliance jurisdiction to New Hampshire properties, producing an NRSS-standard reserve study with percent-funded metric, 30-year projection, and three-tier funding plan. The annual budget summary and reserve-basis disclosure required by RSA 356-B:40-c can be drawn directly from Apex's executive summary and funding plan outputs. A New Hampshire-specific module can be added on request — email sales@apexreservestudio.com.
Built-in New Hampshire compliance.
Select RSA 356-B:40-c (Condominium Act) from the Compliance Jurisdiction dropdown and Apex's PDF builder produces the right disclosure format automatically. Engine math is identical across jurisdictions — only the deliverable changes.
Frequently asked questions — New Hampshire
Does New Hampshire require condo associations to conduct a reserve study?
No formal reserve study is mandated. RSA 356-B:40-c requires the board to include reserve allocations and the basis of calculation in the annual budget summary sent to owners, but does not require a third-party study or specify a funding methodology. Most associations commission an NRSS study every 3-5 years to support the required disclosure and satisfy lender requirements.
What is the RSA 356-B:40-c budget disclosure requirement?
Each year, the board must provide all unit owners a budget summary that includes any reserve allocations and a statement explaining how those reserve figures were calculated and funded. Owners then have the right to ratify or reject the budget at a meeting; rejection requires two-thirds of all unit owners unless the declaration specifies a higher threshold.
Does RSA 356-B cover planned-community HOAs, not just condominiums?
RSA 356-B applies specifically to condominium associations. Planned communities and subdivision HOAs that are not condominiums are governed primarily by their own declarations and bylaws, not by RSA 356-B. Reserve planning for those associations is driven by governing documents and lender standards.
How often should a New Hampshire condo association update its reserve study?
Every 3-5 years is the NRSS recommendation and the practical norm for FHA and Fannie Mae project eligibility. Annual desktop reviews of reserve assumptions are a best practice between full studies, and they support the annual RSA 356-B:40-c disclosure requirement.