Our lease stipulates that it goes month-to-month at the end of term, which I think is a better approach.

Generally, there is a stipulation on the number of unrelated people under one roof.

The usages of both escalation clauses as well as appraisal gap stipulations is becoming more common place to secure offers. 

Over the years of landlording and owning property in a college town, I have noticed that my Special Stipulations section in my leases have taken on some strange phrases and warnings to new tenants.

If it is a rehab, it takes 4-6 weeks anyway, then we can sell it and just stipulate the closing date has to be after we get the deed.We live in interesting times!

Some may stipulate a minimum, others a maximum.

They would like to add an above ground pool, which would be OK with us, but I would like to get you guys' opinion on what stipulations to add into the lease. 

Agree, don't be concerned if $2K is above market, most states don't stipulate what you can ask for in rent, other than rental control jurisdictions.If you aren't totally familiar with NH or unsure as what your options for renewing a  lease, I would recommend seeking an attorney in NH and not on 'websites', no matter how helpful they may seem.  

Say a landlord puts, "Smoking in the unit is a loss of security deposit/or (insert arbitrary amount here)" in the lease or stipulate to ANY such fixed amounts in a lease.

(A reimbursable billing)  If they didn't pay, I deducted the water bill from their rent, which made their rent late.Now...this is stipulated in the lease agreement, that any rent received is applied to any outstanding bills they have with me.