A Louisiana lease agreement helps landlords and property management companies enter into a legally binding contract with a tenant who wishes to rent property and pay on a monthly basis.
The terms and conditions in the document need to adhere to Louisiana laws, and some of these details include rent and security deposit specifics, contact and identifying information of both parties, a description of the premises being leased, or health, safety, and other hazard disclosures.
Rental Lease Laws Overview
- Rent Control: No.
- Limit on Late Fees: No.
- Late Fees in Rental Agreement: Yes.
- Grace Period: No.
- License Required for Landlord: No.
By Type (6)
Standard Lease Agreement
Establishes a lease agreement between a landlord and a tenant for renting a residential property.
Month-to-Month Rental Agreement
Provides residents with the option for adaptable, month-to-month living arrangements, free from the necessity of a long-term commitment.
Commercial Lease Agreement
Meant for businesses leasing commercial properties.
Room Rental Agreement
Formalize cohabitation through a binding contract between the primary tenant and additional occupants.
Sublease Agreement
Provides the subtenant with the authorization to lease either the entire property or a portion of it for a defined duration.
Rent-to-Own Lease Agreement
Combines the advantages of a traditional lease agreement and home ownership.
Security Deposit
- Maximum Amount: There is no limit on how much the landlord may ask from the tenant when authorizing the lease.
- Receipts: Not required.
- Interest Payments: The landlord is not required to collect interest on the security deposit.
- Bank Account: There is no requirement to hold the security deposit in a separate bank account.
- Returning Requirements: The landlord must return the deposit within 30 days from the termination date [1] .
- Withholding Rules: Landlords must send tenants an itemized statement explaining any retained advance or deposit within one month after tenancy ends [2] .
Rent Payments
- Laws: Rent is due as specified in the lease agreement.
- Rent Control: Louisiana has no rent control laws.
- Late Fees and Grace Period: There is no mandatory grace period, and the landlord can charge late fees as specified in the lease.
- Withholding Rent: The tenant may withhold rent if the landlord fails to make necessary repairs within a reasonable time [3] .
Landlord Right of Entry
- Notice Requirements: There is no requirement by state law for the landlord to give advance notice to enter the property.
- Keys, Locks, and Security: There is no specific statute governing keys, locks, and security in Louisiana.
Property Repairs
- Landlord Responsibilities: The landlord must maintain the property in a condition suitable for its intended use [4] .
- Tenant Repairs: If the landlord fails to make necessary repairs, tenants can deduct the cost from the rent [5] .
- Abandonment: Louisiana law does not specify a time period for when a property is considered abandoned.
Terminating a Lease
- Month-to-Month Tenancy: 10 days’ notice must be given before the end of the month for terminating a month-to-month lease [6] .
- Unclaimed Property: Louisiana state law does not require landlords to store unclaimed personal property after a tenant has vacated.
Sample
The Louisiana lease agreement template below can be downloaded in PDF or Word format.