La. Civ. Code § Art. 2697
Warranty for unknown vices or defects
Operative Text
Art. 2697. Warranty for unknown vices or defects The warranty provided in the preceding Article also encompasses vices or defects that are not known to the lessor. However, if the lessee knows of such vices or defects and fails to notify the lessor, the lessee's recovery for breach of warranty may be reduced accordingly.
Louisiana Civil Code Art. 2697 extends the lessor's warranty of fitness to cover hidden vices or defects even when the lessor had no knowledge of them at the time of the lease. This means a landlord cannot escape warranty liability simply by claiming ignorance of a defect. However, the provision also establishes a counterbalancing rule: if a tenant was aware of such a defect and did not inform the landlord, any compensation the tenant might recover could be reduced to reflect that failure to notify.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under La. Civ. Code art. § Art. 2697, property owners and managers are held to a warranty that covers hidden defects regardless of whether they personally knew about them. Compliant operators generally maintain thorough inspection records and document the condition of units before and during tenancies, since ignorance of a defect is not a defense to a warranty claim. Keeping open lines of communication with tenants about reported conditions can also be relevant if a dispute arises over what each party knew and when.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
La. Civ. Code art. § Art. 2697 gives tenants the ability to pursue a warranty claim against a landlord for hidden defects even if the landlord claims they were unaware of the problem. Tenants should be aware, however, that the provision also addresses situations where the tenant knew of a defect and did not report it — in such cases, any recovery may be reduced. Tenants who discover defects generally benefit from notifying the landlord promptly in writing, and those with questions about their rights under this provision may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 17, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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