Louisiana Landlord Laws
Louisiana has several laws regarding the relationship between a tenant and a landlord. These laws both govern the responsibilities the landlord has towards the tenant and the rental property and protect the landlord's right to conduct business as a property manager.
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Leases
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The lease can be either long term or month to month. The lease must include the cost of rent, the amount of the security deposit and the amount of the pet deposit, if any. The lease should also include other conditions such as a smoking policy, pet policy or visitors policy. Leases in Louisiana can be either written or verbal agreements.
Maintenance Obligations
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It is the landlord's responsibility to maintain the rental property and make any necessary repairs. The landlord must keep the smoke detectors, heating systems and plumbing in good working order and make repairs to the structure of the property as needed. However, the landlord is not responsible for making repairs to damages caused by the tenant or a guest of the tenant, according to the Louisiana Department of Justice.
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Rent and Security Deposits
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The landlord cannot raise the cost of rent through the duration of the lease. Landlords have the right to charge a late fee for the late payment of rent only if the landlord specified an amount for the late fee in the lease. Landlords in Louisiana can also charge a security deposit. However, they must return the deposit, or provide the tenant with a written item of deductions taken from the deposit, within 30 days of the tenant vacating the property, according to the Louisiana Department of Justice.
Evictions
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The landlord is within his rights to evict a tenant who violates her lease, such as failing to make the rent payments. However, the landlord must follow proper eviction procedures including providing the tenant with a Notice to Vacate, filing an eviction with the local court and attending the hearing. The landlord cannot enter the property before the hearing, remove any of the tenant's personal property or prevent the tenant from entering the property by changing the locks during the eviction procedure.
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