La. Stat. Ann. § R.S. 9:3259.2
Application for or receipt of government funds not a defense to action to evict
Operative Text
§3259.2. Application for or receipt of government funds not a defense to action to evict The application for or the receipt of entitlements or funds, under any federal or state rent subsidy program or rent subsidy assistance, shall not be considered payment of rent and shall not be a defense to an action to evict the lessee.
Under La. R.S. § 9:3259.2, the act of applying for or receiving government rent assistance—such as federal or state rental subsidy funds—does not count as payment of rent under Louisiana law. Because such applications or receipts are not treated as rent payment, a tenant cannot use them as a legal defense against an eviction action brought by a landlord. The rule draws a clear line between the existence of a subsidy program and the actual satisfaction of a rent obligation.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under La. R.S. § 9:3259.2, a compliant Louisiana landlord understands that a tenant's pending application for or receipt of government rental assistance does not satisfy the tenant's rent obligation. Operators who pursue eviction proceedings for nonpayment of rent are generally not barred from doing so simply because the tenant has applied for or is receiving subsidy funds. Keeping clear records of actual rent payments received—separate from any subsidy program activity—is a practice consistent with this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
La. R.S. § 9:3259.2 means that in Louisiana, having applied for or received government rent assistance cannot, by itself, be raised as a defense to stop an eviction proceeding for nonpayment of rent. Tenants in this situation may want to understand what other defenses or procedural rights may be available under Louisiana landlord-tenant law, and tenant-rights organizations can help explain those options. Consulting a legal aid organization familiar with Louisiana housing law is one path tenants commonly explore when facing eviction while awaiting subsidy funds.
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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