New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu signed Senate Bill 192 (SB 192) on July 16, overhauling the state’s self-storage lien law. The new law goes into effect on Oct. 10, allowing facility operators to send lien notices via e-mail, conduct lien sales online and charge a late fee of $20 or 20 percent of monthly rent, whichever is greater. It also allows them to limit the value of stored property and have vehicles towed once delinquency exceeds 30 days.
The new law also stipulates that “a renter who purposely or knowingly accesses a rented space or removes property from a rented space after being denied access” can be prosecuted. A previous provision requiring Uniform Commercial Code searches for untitled property was eliminated, according to a July 15 e-mail newsletter to members of the national Self Storage Association (SSA).
Self-storage operators in New Hampshire can deny unit access to tenants once delinquency reaches five days, per the new law. At that time, default notices can be sent either by First-Class mail or e-mail as long as the tenant has given permission to be contacted by e-mail in the lease agreement. Once delinquency reaches 14 days, they can deliver lien-sale notification to the tenant in person or by e-mail or verified mail.
SB 192 “achieves significant reform,” SSA officials said in its newsletter. The New Hampshire Self Storage Association worked in collaboration with the SSA in lobbying for the changes.
The bill was introduced on Jan. 22. Its passage was enrolled in the house and senate on June 28.
Sources:
The General Court of New Hampshire, Senate Bill 192
SSA Magazine Weekly 7/15/19, Breaking News! New Hampshire Adopts Storage-Friendly Law