Updated May 25, 2023
A Louisiana rental agreement is between a landlord and tenant for the rental and use of a residential or commercial property. The tenant will agree to maintain the property and pay rent on a monthly basis to the landlord. The landlord is recommended, before authorizing a lease, to run a credit check on the tenant and verify their income through their employer or past pay stubs.
Table of Contents |
Agreement Types (7)
 Standard Residential Lease Agreement – Landlord and tenant arrangement with a fixed start and end date.
Download: Adobe PDF, MS Word, OpenDocument |
 Association of Realtors Lease Agreement – Provided by the New Orleans Metropolitan Association of Realtors for the use of residential tenancies.
Download: Adobe PDF |
 Commercial Lease Agreement – Used for a property that has an office, retail, industrial, or any other type of space that may be available for a business to operate.
Download: Adobe PDF, MS Word, OpenDocument |
 Month-to-Month Lease Agreement (CC 2728) – Has a start date and no end period. The tenancy ends when either the landlord or tenant gives the other party 10 days’ notice before the next payment date.
Download: Adobe PDF, MS Word, OpenDocument |
 Rent-to-Own Lease Agreement – Standard rental contract that gives the lessee the power to buy the premises with an option listed in the document.
Download: Adobe PDF, MS Word, OpenDocument |
 Room Rental (Roommate) Agreement – A written consensus among persons living in a shared housing arrangement.
Download: Adobe PDF, MS Word, OpenDocument |
 Sublease Agreement – Form for a tenant who wants to rent the space they are under contract for to someone else, known as the “subtenant.”
Download: Adobe PDF, MS Word, OpenDocument |
Required Disclosures (1)
Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Form – For any residence built prior to 1978.
Security Deposits
Maximum Amount – There is no maximum. The landlord may request as much as possible from the tenant.
Returning – The landlord has one (1) month from the tenancy end date to return the funds back to the tenant (RS 9:3251). If the landlord does not return the deposit within one (1) month, the landlord will be subject to a penalty of $300 or twice the amount of the deposit, whichever is greater (RS 9:3252).
When is Rent Late? (Grace Period)
Rent is due on the date mentioned in the lease. There is no grace period in Louisiana. If rent is not paid, the landlord can charge a fee and serve the 5-day notice to quit.
Late Fees
Maximum Penalty – No maximum set by Louisiana. The landlord can charge as much as desired if it is mentioned in the lease.
NSF Fee (RS 9:2782(B)) – $25 or 5% of the check amount, whichever is greater, can be charged to the tenant for a bad check.
Right to Enter (Landlord)
The landlord has the right to make repairs during the lease term if the said repair cannot wait until the end of the lease. Although, there is no specified notice period mentioned that the landlord must give the tenant (CC 2693).
If a landlord is going to enter the leased property, the tenant is recommended to be given 24 to 48-hour notice.
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Resources
- A Guide to Louisiana Landlord & Tenant Laws – Provided by the Louisiana Attorney General.
- Moving In, Moving Out, and Everything Between! – Provided by the Attorney General.
- Chapter 9, Louisiana Landlord-Tenant Law – Provided by the Loyola University of New Orleans.