La. Stat. Ann. § R.S. 51:1703
Bond required; penalty
Operative Text
§1703. Bond required; penalty A. No rental referral agency shall require a deposit without first posting and maintaining a surety bond to guarantee the return of said deposits to persons who do not obtain housing through the listings or services of the agency. The bond shall be in the amount of five thousand dollars, and shall be posted with the secretary of state. Said bond shall be issued by a surety authorized to do business in this state. B. The term of the bond shall be continuous, but it shall be subject to termination by the surety upon giving sixty days written notice to the principal and to the assistant secretary. The bond shall continue in effect during the sixty day period. C. A copy of said bond shall be conspicuously posted on the premises of the agency near the location where deposits are received. D. It shall be unlawful for any rental referral agency owner or employee to post an expired bond or a bond which does not meet the requirements of Section 1703. E. It shall be unlawful for any rental referral agency owner or employee to collect or attempt to collect any deposit toward a fee where a valid bond as required by Subsections A and B is not posted as required by Subsection C. F. Any person who is found guilty of any act prohibited by Subsections D and E of this Section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined five hundred dollars or imprisoned for one to six months, or both.
La. R.S. § 51:1703 establishes that rental referral agencies in Louisiana must post and maintain a $5,000 surety bond with the secretary of state before they can collect any deposits from prospective tenants. The bond must remain continuously in force, be issued by an authorized surety, and a copy must be visibly displayed near where deposits are received. Collecting deposits without a valid, properly posted bond—or displaying an expired or noncompliant bond—is a criminal misdemeanor under this provision.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of rental referral agencies subject to La. R.S. § 51:1703 generally ensure that a $5,000 surety bond from a state-authorized surety is filed with the secretary of state before accepting any deposits. Compliant agencies keep the bond continuously active, monitor for any termination notices from the surety (which require 60 days' written notice), and post a copy of the bond conspicuously near the deposit-collection area. Collecting deposits while the bond is expired, invalid, or improperly posted exposes agency owners and employees to misdemeanor criminal liability, including fines and potential imprisonment.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under La. R.S. § 51:1703, tenants who pay deposits to a rental referral agency have the right to expect that a valid $5,000 surety bond is in place to help guarantee the return of those deposits if housing is not obtained through the agency. If an agency collected a deposit without a properly posted, valid bond, that act is a criminal violation, and tenants may consider reporting the conduct to local law enforcement or the Louisiana attorney general's office. Consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider can help clarify what remedies may be available in a given situation.
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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