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Section 8 in Manchester, NH: Rent Limits and Housing Authorities

Manchester-Nashua, NH metro area. FY2027 Fair Market Rents, active voucher counts, the housing authorities that run the program here, and whether landlords can legally refuse a voucher. Every figure comes straight from HUD data.

2-bedroom FMR (FY2027)
$2,168
HUD
Active vouchers
7,731
89% utilized
Housing authorities
4
serving this metro
Voucher protection
Not protected

Fair Market Rent by bedroom count

HUD rent benchmarks for FY2027, effective October 1, 2026. These are not adopted housing-authority payment standards or household subsidy amounts. The illustration shows 90% to 110% of FMR; ZIP-based schedules, approved exceptions and Moving to Work rules can differ.

BedroomsFMRIllustration: 90% to 110% of FMR
Efficiency (studio)$1,510$1,359 to $1,661
1-bedroom$1,657$1,491 to $1,823
2-bedroom$2,168$1,951 to $2,385
3-bedroom$2,583$2,325 to $2,841
4-bedroom$2,849$2,564 to $3,134

The two-bedroom HUD benchmark for Manchester is $2,168. Multiplying by 90% and 110% gives $1,951 to $2,385, not an approval range. Gross rent includes the applicable allowance for tenant-paid utilities. Your agency must calculate assistance using its adopted standard, your household and the proposed unit.

What changed from FY2026 to FY2027 in Manchester

HUD's two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Manchester-Nashua, NH metro rose from $2,037 in FY2026 to $2,168 in FY2027, a change of +$131 a month (+6.4%). FY2027 figures took effect on October 1, 2026.

BedroomsFY2026FY2027Change
Efficiency (studio)$1,404$1,510+$106 (+7.5%)
1-bedroom$1,552$1,657+$105 (+6.8%)
2-bedroom$2,037$2,168+$131 (+6.4%)
3-bedroom$2,442$2,583+$141 (+5.8%)
4-bedroom$2,697$2,849+$152 (+5.6%)

The FMR is not what the voucher pays. Each housing authority sets its own payment standard. The basic range is 90% to 110% of the applicable FMR or SAFMR, with exceptions and Moving to Work policies that may differ. A HUD effective date is not a household rent-change notice. Confirm the adopted schedule and its application to your lease or reexamination with your agency.

Already renting with a voucher in Manchester? Under standard HCV rules, once the housing authority raises its payment standard, the higher amount must be used for your subsidy no later than the earliest of three dates: a rent increase that would raise your share, your next regular or interim reexamination, or one year after the increase took effect (24 CFR 982.505(c)(4)). Confirm any applicable Moving to Work policy with your agency.

Landlords: a higher FMR does not raise a contract rent by itself. You still request the increase from the housing authority, and the new rent has to pass its rent reasonableness review against comparable unassisted units.

Source: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 and FY2027, huduser.gov.

Voucher demand in this metro

Active vouchers
7,731
Occupied
6,881
Utilization
89%

Aggregated from HUD Public Housing Authority data (FY2026). High utilization means most vouchers issued here are already placed in a unit, so landlords who accept vouchers fill vacancies from a deep, reliable applicant pool.

Housing authorities serving Manchester

4 PHAs administer vouchers in this metro. Apply with (or contact) the PHA that covers the specific address.

  • New Hampshire Housing Finance Agency

    Bedford , NH · NH901 · 4,331 HCV units

    Status unknown
    6034728623
  • Manchester Housing & Redevelopment Authority

    Manchester , NH · NH001 · 2,177 HCV units

    Status unknown
    6036242100
  • Nashua Housing and Redevelopment Authority

    Nashua , NH · NH002 · 998 HCV units

    Status unknown
    6038835661
  • Harbor Homes, Inc.

    Nashua , NH · NH888 · 225 HCV units

    Status unknown
    6038823616

Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Manchester, NH?

In most of the state, yes. New Hampshire has no statewide source-of-income protection, so landlords in Manchester, NH can decline Section 8 applications unless a local ordinance says otherwise.

No statewide source-of-income protection for housing vouchers. PRRAC Appendix B (March 2026).

Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change, so verify current status before acting on a rejection or making a leasing decision.

Counties in the Manchester metro

County pages show the local voucher count, the housing authorities that serve it, and ZIP-level rent limits where HUD publishes them.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Section 8 pay for a 2-bedroom in Manchester?
In the Manchester-Nashua, NH metro, the FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $2,168 per month. For illustration, 90% to 110% of that benchmark is roughly $1,951 to $2,385. This is not an adopted payment standard or subsidy quote. ZIP schedules, approved exceptions and Moving to Work rules may differ. Gross rent includes the applicable allowance for tenant-paid utilities.
What are the FY2027 Fair Market Rents in Manchester?
HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents for the Manchester-Nashua, NH metro, by bedroom size: studio $1,510, 1-bedroom $1,657, 2-bedroom $2,168, 3-bedroom $2,583, 4-bedroom $2,849. These are HUD benchmarks, not household subsidy amounts. Confirm whether your agency uses ZIP-based standards and which schedule applies to your unit.
Did Section 8 rent limits change in Manchester for FY2027?
The two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Manchester-Nashua, NH metro went from $2,037 in FY2026 to $2,168 in FY2027, an increase of $131 a month. FY2027 Fair Market Rents took effect on October 1, 2026. HUD's effective date does not automatically change a household's assistance. Ask your administering agency which adopted schedule and effective date apply to a new lease, move or reexamination.
How do I apply for Section 8 in Manchester?
Section 8 in Manchester is administered by New Hampshire Housing Finance Agency, Manchester Housing & Redevelopment Authority, Nashua Housing and Redevelopment Authority and other local housing authorities. Each agency has its own application process, waiting lists and preferences. You may apply to more than one agency when eligible lists are open; a listing inquiry is not a voucher application. If you already have a voucher, confirm the receiving agency and any portability requirements for the proposed address.

Find Section 8 apartments in Manchester

VoucherMatch connects voucher holders with landlords who accept Section 8, and it is free for renters. The administering housing authority must approve the actual unit, rent and household assistance calculation.

Rent limits from HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rent data. Investor running the numbers? The RentalCalcs voucher analyzer uses this same dataset.