Download Louisiana Rental Lease Agreement Templates [PDF]

A Louisiana lease agreement is a legal document used for renting residential or commercial property. The main contractual parties in the lease agreement are the landlord (lessor) and the tenant (lessee). 

Some of the main reasons people choose to have a lease agreement are to clearly define the rights and duties of the landlord and the tenant. Another reason is that with the lease agreement, each party can protect their rights before the court. This gives additional stability to each party when renting a property.

The tenant will first submit the application to the landlord, where they will include the financial information and references from the previous leases. After reviewing the application, if everything is in order, the landlord will start drafting the lease agreement. 

This article will show you how to structure your Louisiana lease agreement and how to get a template of this document hassle-free.

Louisiana Lease Agreement Required Disclosures

When drafting the Louisiana lease agreement, pay attention to the mandatory clauses that must be included:

Louisiana state law doesn’t require any mandatory disclosures to be included in the lease agreement. 

However, federal law provides that for any property built before 1978, the lead-based paint disclosure has to be included in the lease agreement. This disclosure informs the tenant of the presence of any lead-based paint at the property and gives them the safety guidelines. (U.S. Code § 4852d)

Louisiana Lease Agreement Optional Disclosures

Although not declared mandatory by federal and state laws, these disclosures are often included in lease agreements in Louisiana in order to minimize the liability and protect the contractual parties.

Consequences of Non-Disclosure

The tenant can sue the landlord in civil court for any damage caused by health and safety hazards that were not properly mentioned in the lease agreement. 

The landlord can also be fined up to $19,507 if they fail to include a lead-based paint disclosure in the lease agreement. (24 CFR § 30.65)

Louisiana Lease Agreement Security Deposits

Security Deposit Maximum

The state of Louisiana does not set a maximum limit for the security deposit. Therefore, it is important that the landlord and the tenant determine if a security deposit is going to be taken and what a reasonable amount would be.

Security Deposit Return

Any security deposit remaining after the tenancy must be returned to the tenant within one month after the tenancy is over. (RS 9:3251)

The landlord shall also inform the tenant of any deductions made from the security deposit by submitting an itemized list of deductions made. 

Suppose the landlord doesn't return the security deposit by the due date. In that case, the tenant is entitled to the amount of the security deposit plus $300 or double the amount of the security deposit, whichever is greater. (RS 9:3252) 

When is Rent Due in Louisiana? (Grace Period)

The due date for the rent payment is determined in the lease agreement by the contractual parties.

Louisiana’s statutes don’t provide a grace period for the rent payment. That means that the landlord can charge the late fee from the moment the rent is due. The landlord can also start the eviction process after issuing a 5-day notice to pay or quit to the tenant.

Louisiana Rent Late Fees

Louisiana does not set any limits for late rent payment fees. The landlord can, therefore, set any reasonable amount as the late rent fee. 

Louisiana NSF Checks

If paying the rent using a worthless check, the tenant will be liable to compensate the landlord.

The compensation shall include:

Louisiana Landlord’s Right to Enter

There is no minimum time in which the landlord must inform the tenant before visiting the leased unit. In practice, the landlord would give the tenant at least a 24-hour notice before visiting. However, this does not apply in the case of an emergency.

Moreover, the landlord should visit the property only at reasonable times, usually between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Louisiana Lease Agreement FAQ