La. Stat. Ann. § R.S. 51:1701
Fees and deposits
Operative Text
§1701. Fees and deposits A. No rental referral agency shall charge or attempt to collect any fees or other things of value from persons given access to rental listings, except where rental housing is in fact obtained by such persons from the listings of or through the assistance of that agency. Such housing is deemed obtained when the prospective tenant has accepted the owner's offer to rent the property. B. Deposits to be applied toward fees may be required by a rental referral agency in conjunction with a written contract stating: (1) Specifications of housing sought by the applicant, including maximum rent, geographic area, number of bedrooms required, and number of children to be housed; (2) That the agency will use its best efforts to find such housing for the applicant; (3) That the deposit will be refunded within ten days of the applicant's request should the specified housing not be obtained through the agency's listings or assistance within one month of the date of the contract.
Under La. R.S. § 51:1701, rental referral agencies in Louisiana are prohibited from collecting fees from prospective tenants unless the tenant actually obtains housing through the agency's listings or assistance. A tenant is considered to have obtained housing once they have accepted the landlord's offer to rent. Agencies may collect a deposit upfront, but only under a written contract that specifies the housing sought, commits the agency to best efforts, and guarantees a refund within ten days if qualifying housing is not found within one month.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Rental referral agencies operating under La. R.S. § 51:1701 generally ensure that fee collection is tied strictly to successful placement — meaning a tenant has accepted an owner's rental offer through the agency's listings or help. Compliant agencies that collect deposits do so only alongside a written contract that details the applicant's housing specifications, the agency's best-efforts commitment, and the refund timeline. Operators typically maintain clear records of contract dates and placement outcomes to demonstrate compliance with the one-month and ten-day refund windows.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
La. R.S. § 51:1701 gives prospective tenants the right to a refund of any deposit paid to a rental referral agency if the agency does not find qualifying housing within one month of the contract date, with the refund due within ten days of the tenant's request. Tenants can review their written contract to confirm it includes the required specifications, best-efforts language, and refund terms as a baseline for understanding their rights. Those who believe an agency has improperly withheld fees or deposits may consider contacting the Louisiana Attorney General's Consumer Protection Section or a local tenant-rights organization for general information about available remedies.
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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