Does New Hampshire guarantee working water and sewer in a park?

Yes, by an implied warranty. Under RSA 205-A:13-c, III, the park owner warrants 'a functioning water supply system which, if the source is provided by the owner, shall provide safe drinking water' and 'a safely functioning sewage disposal system,' in accordance with Department of Environmental Services standards.

Mobile home utilities in New Hampshire

Q: Can a New Hampshire park force residents to buy fuel from one supplier?

No. Under RSA 205-A:2, IV, a park may not 'require any tenant to purchase any goods or services, including but not limited to fuel oil, paving, snow plowing ... from any particular person or company,' and if it runs a central fuel or gas metering system, 'the charges for such goods or services shall not exceed the average prevailing price in the locality.' This is general information, not advice about a specific bill — consider consulting a licensed attorney in New Hampshire.

Q: Who pays to convert a New Hampshire park to tenant-paid utilities?

The park. Under RSA 205-A:6, II, if a park shifts responsibility for water, sewer, or other utility service to the tenant, 'the park owner or operator shall be responsible for the cost incurred in the conversion, including the cost of installation of utility meters,' and tenants 'shall be billed directly by the utility.' A park billed as a single entity may not charge tenants an administrative fee for the utility (RSA 205-A:6, III).

New Hampshire's RSA Chapter 205-A protects residents on utilities by guaranteeing supplier choice, putting conversion costs on the park, barring administrative fees on single-billed utilities, and warranting safe water and sewage. The information below describes how the law generally works; anyone disputing a specific charge should consider consulting a licensed attorney in New Hampshire.

What the statute says

RSA 205-A:2, IV bars a park from "requir[ing] any tenant to purchase any goods or services, including but not limited to fuel oil, paving, snow plowing ... from any particular person or company," and provides that for a central fuel or gas metering system "the charges for such goods or services shall not exceed the average prevailing price in the locality." RSA 205-A:2, V bars the park from preventing others from supplying or servicing tenants, and RSA 205-A:2, IX bars charging tenants for repairs to underground oil, water, electrical, or septic systems not caused by the tenant.

On utility conversions, RSA 205-A:6, II makes the park "responsible for the cost incurred in the conversion, including the cost of installation of utility meters," and provides that tenants "shall be billed directly by the utility." RSA 205-A:6, III bars a single-billed park from "charging manufactured housing park tenants an administrative fee" for the utility. And RSA 205-A:13-c, III warrants a "functioning water supply system ... [for] safe drinking water" and a "safely functioning sewage disposal system."

How it works in general

A New Hampshire park can't force residents to buy fuel, plowing, or other services from a chosen vendor, and a park-run central fuel system can't charge above the local average price. If the park shifts a utility like water or sewer to tenant billing, it must pay the conversion and metering costs and have the utility bill residents directly — and it can't add an administrative fee on a utility it's billed for as a single account. The park also warrants safe drinking water and a working sewage system, and can't bill residents for underground-system repairs they didn't cause.

Common scenarios

General examples New Hampshire park residents commonly encounter:

A park requires one fuel-oil or plowing vendor. That's barred, and central fuel can't exceed the local average price (RSA 205-A:2, IV).
A park converts to tenant-paid water. The park pays the conversion and meter costs, and the utility bills residents directly (RSA 205-A:6, II).
The park water or sewer system fails. The implied warranty of habitability covers safe water and working sewage (RSA 205-A:13-c).

Other authorities that may apply

Chapter 205-A governs supplier choice, conversions, and the water/sewer warranty; the Public Utilities Commission regulates jurisdictional utilities under RSA 374 and RSA 378, and the Department of Environmental Services sets water and sewage standards. The written rental agreement sets the billing terms. Federal law can apply in particular situations.