A Louisiana standard lease agreement is a contract between a landlord and tenant for the rental and use of a residential property. The tenant is responsible for maintaining the property and paying monthly rent to the landlord.
It’s highly recommended that landlords conduct a credit check on potential tenants and verify their income before approving a lease. Typically, a standard residential lease agreement in Louisiana is a fixed-term agreement for one year, with rent due on the first of each month.
During the initial term, the parties cannot alter the rent, rental term, or any other provisions unless agreed to in writing. Any changes to the agreement must be made in writing once the initial term has expired.
Considerations on Lease Length
- Residential leases have no maximum length, allowing any duration as long as agreed upon in writing by both parties.
- If the duration of the lease term isn’t specified, the law provides default durations. For leases of immovables (real estate) or movables (personal property) used as residences, the default duration is month-to-month. (LA Civ Code art. 2680 (2021))
- A holdover tenancy happens when a tenant stays in a property after the lease term has ended. If the landlord accepts rent, they can’t evict the tenant. The previous lease terms will continue until a new agreement is made or the tenant is legally evicted.
Security Deposit
- Maximum Amount ($): No state-imposed limit
- Returning to Tenant: Within one month (§ 9:3251(A))
Rent Grace Period
There is no rent grace period for rent payments. Generally, rent is due on the date specified in the lease agreement, and if it is not paid by that date, it is considered late.
Landlord Resources
- Landlord-Tenant Laws – § 9:3251 – § 9:3261
- Handbook – A Guide to Louisiana Landlord & Tenant Laws (PDF)
