How long does a landlord in Louisiana have to return a security deposit?
30 calendar days after you move out
In plain terms, the statute says
Willful failure to comply with section 9:3251 gives the tenant the right to recover the portion of the deposit wrongfully retained plus the greater of three hundred dollars or twice the amount wrongfully retained, so the remedy does turn on willfulness rather than being strict. Failure to remit within thirty days after a written demand for a refund is itself deemed a willful failure (La. R.S. 9:3252).
Who this covers
Residential or dwelling premises only — subsection A returns the deposit 'to the tenant or lessee of residential or dwelling premises'. Subsection C then switches the whole scheme off for one common fact pattern: the requirements 'shall not apply when the tenant abandons the premises, either without giving notice as required or prior to the termination of the lease', so a tenant who leaves early or without the required notice falls outside the section entirely.
Read the law yourself
Where are you in this?
Have you moved out?
Questions people ask
How long does a landlord in Louisiana have to return a security deposit?
Louisiana: 30 calendar days after you move out.
Who does Louisiana's security-deposit law cover?
Residential or dwelling premises only — subsection A returns the deposit 'to the tenant or lessee of residential or dwelling premises'. Subsection C then switches the whole scheme off for one common fact pattern: the requirements 'shall not apply when the tenant abandons the premises, either without giving notice as required or prior to the termination of the lease', so a tenant who leaves early or without the required notice falls outside the section entirely.
What happens if a landlord in Louisiana is late?
Willful failure to comply with section 9:3251 gives the tenant the right to recover the portion of the deposit wrongfully retained plus the greater of three hundred dollars or twice the amount wrongfully retained, so the remedy does turn on willfulness rather than being strict. Failure to remit within thirty days after a written demand for a refund is itself deemed a willful failure (La. R.S. 9:3252).
Where can I read Louisiana's security-deposit law?
Louisiana's rule is in La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 9:3251. The link on this page goes to the official text, so you can read the section yourself rather than take our word for it.
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