La. Stat. Ann. § R.S. 9:3251
Lessee's deposit to secure lease; retention by lessor; conveyance of leased premises; itemized statement by lessor
Operative Text
§3251. Lessee's deposit to secure lease; retention by lessor; conveyance of leased premises; itemized statement by lessor A. Any advance or deposit of money furnished by a tenant or lessee to a landlord or lessor to secure the performance of any part of a written or oral lease or rental agreement shall be returned to the tenant or lessee of residential or dwelling premises within one month after the lease shall terminate. However, the landlord or lessor may retain all or any portion of the advance or deposit which is reasonably necessary to remedy a default of the tenant or to remedy unreasonable wear to the premises. If any portion of an advance or deposit is retained by a landlord or lessor, he shall forward to the tenant or lessee, within one month after the date the tenancy terminates or within fifteen days after the date that is one month after the tenancy terminates, an itemized statement accounting for the proceeds which are retained and giving the reasons therefor. The tenant shall furnish the lessor a forwarding address at the termination of the lease, to which such statements may be sent. B. In the event of a transfer of the lessor's interest in the leased premises during the term of a lease, the transferor shall also transfer to his successor in interest the sum deposited as security for performance of the lease and the transferor shall then be relieved of further liability with respect to the security deposit. The transferee shall be responsible for the return of the lessee's deposit at the termination of the lease, as set forth in Subsection A of this Section. C. Paragraph A of this Section shall not apply when the tenant abandons the premises, either without giving notice as required or prior to the termination of the lease.
Under La. R.S. § 9:3251, when a tenant provides a security deposit to a landlord for a residential lease, that deposit must be returned within one month after the lease ends. The landlord may keep all or part of the deposit only to cover a tenant's default or unreasonable wear, and must send an itemized statement explaining any retained amounts within the timeframes specified in the statute. If the rental property is sold or transferred during the lease, the new owner takes on responsibility for returning the deposit, and the original landlord is released from that obligation. The deposit-return rules do not apply when a tenant abandons the premises without proper notice or before the lease term ends.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under La. R.S. § 9:3251, compliant residential landlords return security deposits within one month of lease termination and, when retaining any portion, send tenants an itemized written statement explaining each deduction within the statutory deadlines. Operators generally document the condition of the unit at move-in and move-out to support any deductions for default or unreasonable wear, distinguishing those from normal wear and tear. When a property is sold or transferred mid-lease, the transferring landlord passes the deposit funds to the new owner, who then assumes full responsibility for returning the deposit at lease end.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
La. R.S. § 9:3251 gives residential tenants the right to receive their security deposit back within one month of the lease ending, along with an itemized statement if any portion is withheld. Tenants are generally advised to provide a forwarding address at move-out so the landlord can send any required statement or refund, and to document the unit's condition to support any dispute over deductions. If a landlord fails to comply with the return or itemization requirements of § 9:3251, tenants may have grounds to raise a violation in small claims or civil court, and consulting a tenant-rights organization can help clarify available options.
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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