La. Civ. Code § Art. 2709
Lessor's right to seize movables of third persons
Operative Text
Art. 2709. Lessor's right to seize movables of third persons The lessor may lawfully seize a movable that belongs to a third person if it is located in or upon the leased property, unless the lessor knows that the movable is not the property of the lessee. The third person may recover the movable by establishing his ownership prior to the judicial sale in the manner provided by Article 1092 of the Code of Civil Procedure. If he fails to do so, the movable may be sold as though it belonged to the lessee.
Under Louisiana Civil Code Art. 2709, a landlord has the legal authority to seize personal property found on a leased premises to satisfy a lien, even if that property belongs to someone other than the tenant—provided the landlord does not know the item belongs to a third party. A third party who owns seized property can reclaim it by proving ownership before a judicial sale, following the procedure set out in Code of Civil Procedure Article 1092. If the third party does not act in time, the property may be sold as if it were the tenant's.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Art. 2709 of the Louisiana Civil Code gives landlords the right to seize movables found on leased property, but that right is limited when the landlord has actual knowledge that an item belongs to someone other than the tenant. Compliant operators generally take care to document what they know about the ownership of property on the premises before initiating any seizure action. Proceeding with a seizure while knowing an item belongs to a third party can expose a landlord to legal challenges from that third party.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Louisiana Civil Code Art. 2709 creates a risk for guests, roommates, or others who store personal property at a leased address, because that property can be seized to satisfy the tenant's obligations if the landlord is unaware of the true ownership. A third party whose belongings are seized has the right to assert ownership and recover the property before a judicial sale by following the procedure in Code of Civil Procedure Article 1092. Anyone in this situation may want to consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney familiar with Louisiana landlord-tenant law to understand the available options for establishing ownership in time.
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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