If a rental property in Louisiana fails to meet legally required health and safety standards, tenants have the right to report their landlord to local public officials who may choose to follow up, inspect the property and cite the landlord for such violations.
What Are Considered Unsafe Living Conditions in Louisiana?
In Louisiana, unsafe living conditions exist when a rental property doesn’t have safe and working:
- Required plumbing and hot water.
- Required electrical facilities.
- Smoke alarms and (after Jan. 1, 2023) carbon monoxide detectors.
- Common areas.
- Features impacting health, safety, or habitability.
What Should Tenants Do Before Reporting a Violation in Louisiana
In most cases, before reporting a violation, a tenant in Louisiana must notify the landlord in writing about the issue and ask him to fix it within a reasonable time.
How Can Tenants Report a Violation in Louisiana?
Tenants in Louisiana should report violations to the local office or officers responsible for housing code enforcement. The exact process depends on municipality.
| Location | Organization | Contact |
| New Orleans | Dept. of Code Enforcement | Online Form |
| Baton Rouge | Code Enforcement Section | Online Form |
| Shreveport | Property Standards | Online Form |
After receiving a complaint, an inspecting officer might contact the tenant for more information. Then the officer will usually inspect the property and cite the landlord for any code violations.
How Can a Tenant Report a Health or Safety Violation in New Orleans?
A tenant in New Orleans can report a health or safety violation by calling the Department of Code Enforcement at (504) 658-5050 or using the provided online form. Most issues fall under “Property Maintenance.” Enter contact information, provide a location, describe the issue, attach photos if available, and submit.
How Can a Tenant Report a Health or Safety Violation in Baton Rouge?
A tenant in Baton Rouge can report a health or safety violation by calling the Code Enforcement Section at (225) 389-3114 or using the provided online form. The website requires account creation. Select a relevant issue, provide location and details, confirm contact information, and submit.
How Can a Tenant Report a Health or Safety Violation in Shreveport?
A tenant in Shreveport can report a health or safety violation by calling Property Standards at (318) 673-6200 or using the provided online form. Most issues fall under “Code Violation.” Select a location, attach a photo if available, provide contact information as appropriate, and submit.
What Could Happen to a Landlord After a Complaint Is Made in Louisiana?
After a tenant files a complaint about unsafe living conditions in Louisiana, an officer may inspect the property. The landlord must fix noted code violations. Otherwise, the landlord could be fined and the local government might file to condemn the property.
Sources
- 1 La. Civ. Code § 2691 (2022)
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“During the lease, the lessor is bound to make all repairs that become necessary to maintain the thing in a condition suitable for the purpose for which it was leased, except those for which the lessee is responsible.” La. Civ. Code § 2691 (2022). “The lessee is liable for damage to the thing caused by his fault or that of a person who, with his consent, is on the premises or uses the thing.” La. Civ. Code § 2687 (2022)
Source Link - 2 Nola E., LLC v. Sims, 265 So. 3d 1147, 1152 (La. Ct. App. 2019) (internal citations omitted)
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“In Louisiana, the lessor has the obligation to maintain the leased premises in a condition fit for its intended use, and to make necessary repairs. If the lessor fails to fulfill this obligation, the law provides the lessee with two options. He can sue for dissolution of the lease agreement and resulting damages, or he can make indispensable repairs himself and deduct a reasonable cost thereof from the rent due. A lessee is not justified in retaining possession of the leased premises rent-free without pursuing either of these codal remedies. The Louisiana Supreme Court has explicitly held that a lessee may not anticipate refusal or neglect to make the repairs or withhold rent to apply economic pressure on a lessor.”
Source Link - 3 La. Plumbing Code § 301(b)(3) (2016)
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“A dwelling type building provided with a drainage system, a community sewerage system connection or an individual sewerage system shall have at least one water closet, one bathtub or shower, one lavatory, one kitchen-type sink and an adequate source of hot water for each family unit to meet minimum basic requirements for health, sanitation and personal hygiene.”
Source Link - 4 La. Rev. Stat. § 40:1581(A) (2022)
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“All existing one- or two-family dwellings at the time of sale or lease, shall contain, at a minimum, an operable ten-year, sealed lithium battery smoke detector.” La. Rev. Stat. § 40:1581(A) (2022) Note that Act. No. 458 from the 2022 legislative session amends the existing law to require leases executed after January 1, 2023 to also supply carbon monoxide detectors.
Source Link - 5 La. Civ. Code § 2691 (2022)
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“During the lease, the lessor is bound to make all repairs that become necessary to maintain the thing in a condition suitable for the purpose for which it was leased, except those for which the lessee is responsible.” La. Civ. Code § 2691 (2022). “The lessee is liable for damage to the thing caused by his fault or that of a person who, with his consent, is on the premises or uses the thing.” La. Civ. Code § 2687 (2022)
Source Link - 6 La. Civ. Code § 2694 (2022)
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“If the lessor fails to perform his obligation to make necessary repairs within a reasonable time after demand by the lessee, the lessee may cause them to be made. The lessee may demand immediate reimbursement of the amount expended for the repair or apply that amount to the payment of rent, but only to the extent that the repair was necessary and the expended amount was reasonable.”
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