No person shall occupy or let to another for occupancy any dwelling
or dwelling unit for the purpose of living, sleeping, cooking or eating
therein which does not comply with the following requirements:
A.
Kitchen sink. Every dwelling unit shall contain a kitchen sink in
good working condition and properly connected to a water and sewer
system approved by the Housing Standards Board.
B.
Flush water closet and lavatory basin. Every dwelling unit shall
contain a room which is equipped with a flush water closet and a lavatory
basin in good working condition and properly connected to a water
and sewer system approved by the Housing Standards Board.
C.
Bathtub or shower. Every dwelling unit shall contain, within a room
which affords privacy to a person within said room, a bathtub or shower
in good working condition and properly connected to a water and sewer
system approved by the Housing Standards Board.
D.
Sharing of water closet, lavatory basin, bathtub or shower. The occupants
of not more than two dwelling units may share a single lavatory basin
and a single bathtub or shower, provided that:
(1)
Neither of the two dwelling units contains more than two rooms. For
the purposes of this subsection, a kitchenette or an efficiency kitchen
with not more than 60 square feet of floor area shall not be counted
as a room.
(2)
The habitable area of each of such dwelling units shall be in good
working condition and properly connected to a water and system approved
by the Housing Standards Board.
(3)
Such water closet, lavatory basin and bathtub or shower shall be
in good working condition and properly connected to a water and sewer
system approved by the Housing Standards Board.
E.
Hot and cold water. Every kitchen sink, lavatory basin and bathtub
or shower required under the provisions of this article shall be properly
connected with both hot and cold water lines.
F.
Rubbish storage facilities. Every dwelling unit shall be supplied
with adequate rubbish storage facilities so designed and located as
to preclude unhealthy conditions.
G.
Garbage disposal facilities. Every dwelling unit shall have adequate
garbage disposal facilities or garbage storage containers so designed
and located as to preclude unhealthy conditions.
H.
Water-heating facilities. Every dwelling shall have supplied water-heating
facilities which are properly installed, are maintained in safe and
good working condition, are properly connected with the hot-water
lines required under this article and are capable of heating water
to such a temperature as to permit an adequate amount of water to
be drawn at every required kitchen sink, lavatory basin, bathtub or
shower at a temperature of not less than 130° F.
I.
Means of egress. Every dwelling unit shall have safe, unobstructed
means of egress leading to safe and open space at ground level.
J.
Cooking facilities. No cooking equipment shall be furnished or used
which is not so constructed and installed that it will function safely
and effectively, and it shall be maintained in sound working condition,
and portable cooking equipment employing flame shall be prohibited.
No person shall occupy as owner-occupant or shall let to another
for occupancy any dwelling, rooming house, dwelling unit or rooming
unit which does not comply with the following minimum standards for
ventilation, light and heating:
A.
Ventilation.
(1)
Total window area; windows and openable space. Every habitable room
shall have at least one window which faces directly to the outdoors.
The minimum total window area, measured between stops, for every habitable
room shall be 10% of the floor area of such room. Whenever walls or
other portions of structures face a window of any such room and such
light obstruction structures are located less than three feet from
the window and extend to a level above that of the ceiling of the
room, such a window shall not be deemed to face directly to the outdoors
and shall not be included as contributing to the required minimum
total window area. Whenever the only window in a room is a skylight-type
window in the top of such room, the total window area of such skylight
shall equal at least 15% of the total floor area of such room.
(2)
Glazing and repair of windows. All windows and doors containing glass
panes shall be glazed according to accepted practice and kept in good
repair and in easily workable condition; broken panes shall be promptly
repaired.
(3)
Openable window area. Every habitable room shall have at least one
window or skylight which can be easily opened or such other device
as will adequately ventilate the room. The total openable window area
in every habitable room shall equal at least 45% of the minimum window
size as required by this chapter, except where there is supplied some
other device affording adequate ventilation and approved by the Housing
Standards Board.
(4)
Glass-fronted porch. For the purpose of this section, where a living
room faces onto a glass-fronted porch, the porch shall be considered
as a part of the living room if the total window and open space area
between the porch and the living room is at least 15% of the floor
area of the living room.
(5)
Bathroom. Every bathroom and water closet compartment shall comply
with the window area and openable area requirements for habitable
rooms, except where there is supplied some other device approved by
the Housing Standards Board as affording adequate ventilation.
(6)
Laundry rooms. Every laundry room shall have a minimum openable area
of at least three square feet except where there is supplied some
other device approved by the Housing Standards Board as affording
adequate ventilation.
(7)
Public halls and stairways. Each public hall and stairway in every
two-family dwelling, multifamily dwelling and rooming house shall
be adequately ventilated.
B.
Light. Every dwelling within 300 feet of a power line shall be supplied
with electricity as follows:
(1)
Habitable room. Every habitable room, other than rooms used for sleeping
purposes, shall contain at least two separate floor or wall-type electric
convenience outlets or one such convenience outlet and one supplied
ceiling-type electric light fixture. Rooms used for sleeping purposes
shall contain at least one such convenience outlet or one ceiling-type
electric light fixture.
(2)
Public halls. Every public hall in a dwelling unit shall contain
at least one supplied ceiling- or wall-type electric light fixture.
Every public hall and stairway in every two-family dwelling, multifamily
dwelling and rooming house shall be adequately lighted by an adequate
lighting system, which may be turned on when needed by conveniently
located light switches.
C.
Heating facilities. Every dwelling and multifamily dwelling shall
have heating facilities, and the owner of the heating facilities shall
be required to see that they are properly installed, safely maintained
and in good working condition and that they are capable of safely
and adequately heating all habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms
located therein to a temperature of at least an average of 65°
F. with an outside temperature of 10° F. below 0° F. The owners
shall maintain a minimum average room temperature of 65° F. in
all habitable rooms, including bathrooms and toilet rooms when rented,
at all times on the basis of 10° F. below 0° F. outside. The
temperatures shall be existent at a level of three feet above the
floor level and three or more feet from an exterior wall.
D.
Gas heaters. Portable heating equipment employing a flame does not
meet the standards of this chapter and is prohibited.
E.
Screening. Every opening which might provide an entry for rodents
shall be permanently supplied with screens or such other device as
will effectively prevent their entrance.
A.
Space.
(1)
Required space in dwelling units. Every dwelling unit shall contain
a minimum gross floor area of not less than 150 square feet for the
first occupant and 100 square feet for each additional occupant. The
floor area shall be calculated on the basis of the total area of all
habitable rooms. For purposes of this subsection, a child under the
age of two years shall not be counted as an occupant.
(2)
Required space in sleeping rooms. In every dwelling unit, every room
occupied for sleeping purposes by one occupant shall have a minimum
gross floor area of at least 70 square feet. Every room occupied for
sleeping purposes by more than one occupant shall contain at least
50 square feet of floor area for each occupant thereof. For purposes
of this subsection, a child under the age of two years shall not be
counted as an occupant.
(3)
Overcrowding of rooms. If any room in a dwelling is overcrowded,
the Building Official may order the number of persons sleeping or
living in said room to be so reduced that there shall be not less
than 400 cubic feet of air to each adult and 200 cubic feet of air
to each child under 12 years of age occupying such room.
(4)
Eating facilities. No cooking or eating shall be permitted in any
sleeping room in any dwelling or dwelling unit, and no cooking facility
or appliance shall be permitted in any sleeping room.
B.
Use and location.
(1)
Minimum ceiling heights. Habitable rooms in existing buildings shall
have a clear ceiling height over the minimum area required by this
chapter at not less than seven feet, except that in attics or top
half-stories, the ceiling height shall not be less than seven feet
over not less than 1/3 of the minimum area required by this chapter
when used for sleeping, study or similar activity. In calculating
the floor area of such rooms, only those portions of the floor area
of the room having a clear ceiling height of five feet or more may
be included.
(2)
Cellars. No cellar space shall be used as a habitable room.
(3)
Basements. No basement space shall be used as a habitable room unless:
(a)
The floor and walls are impervious to leakage of underground
and surface runoff water and are insulated against dampness.
(b)
Total window area in each room meets the minimum requirements
of this chapter.
(c)
Such required minimum window area shall open readily for purposes
of ventilation directly to the outside air.
(d)
Total openable window area in each room conforms to the requirements
of this chapter, except where there is supplied some other device
affording adequate ventilation as defined in the State Building Code
and State Fire Code pursuant to RSA 155-A and approved by the Housing
Standards Board.
Every foundation, floor, wall, ceiling and roof shall be reasonably
weathertight, watertight and rodentproof, shall be capable of affording
privacy and shall be kept in good repair.
Every window, exterior door and basement hatchway shall be reasonably
weathertight, watertight, and rodentproof and shall be kept in sound
working condition and good repair.
