Getting Association Financial Records in New Hampshire

When a New Hampshire board won't explain where the money goes, the financial records are usually the answer — and for condominiums, the law gives owners a clear, fast right to them. The catch is that the right depends on whether you live in a condominium or another kind of HOA. This is general information, not legal advice — for how it applies to your specific situation, a licensed New Hampshire attorney is the right resource.

For condominiums: a 15-day access right

New Hampshire's Condominium Act (RSA 356-B) was strengthened in recent years to give unit owners timely access to the association's finances. The statute provides:

"Each unit owner shall have access to all financial information within 15 days of the unit owner's request" — RSA 356-B:37-e

The provision reaches financial details — including contracts, mortgages, loans and their terms, and the association's outstanding debts and account balances. The headline number is the 15-day window: a condo association generally cannot sit indefinitely on a financial-records request.

What condo owners commonly request

Owners reviewing the finances often look at:

• The budget and financial statements
• Bank statements and account balances
• Vendor contracts and any loans or mortgages held by the association
• Meeting minutes (the Act addresses disclosure of minutes alongside financial information)

Records frequently feed other disputes — questioning a fine or a dues increase usually starts with the underlying financial documents.

For non-condominium HOAs: a different path

If you live in a subdivision HOA that is not a condominium, RSA 356-B generally does not apply — so the 15-day right in § 356-B:37-e is not your hook. Instead, record access typically comes from:

• The governing documents — many declarations and bylaws grant members inspection rights.
• RSA 292, New Hampshire's nonprofit corporation law, if the HOA is incorporated as a nonprofit, which addresses members' access to corporate records.

Why this matters so much is covered in Condo vs. HOA in New Hampshire.

If records are withheld

Condo owners pointing to the 15-day right in § 356-B:37-e generally put the request in writing and keep a dated copy. When records are still withheld, the Condominium Act's compliance remedy (with fee-shifting) comes into play — see Enforcing Your Rights Against an Association in New Hampshire. A licensed New Hampshire attorney can advise on enforcing the right that applies to your specific community.

Sources

• RSA 356-B:37-e — Disclosure of Financial Information and Meeting Minutes to Unit Owners
• RSA 356-B — New Hampshire Condominium Act (full chapter)
• RSA 292 — Voluntary Corporations and Associations