Renting out a room in your home can be a practical way to offset housing costs or make use of unused space. Whether you’re renting a room long-term or need a month-to-month arrangement, having a room rental agreement that Louisiana landlords can rely on helps set expectations and reduce conflict.
A written room rental agreement in Louisiana clarifies how shared living works, from rent and utilities to privacy and house rules, while keeping the arrangement in line with state law. Even though you’re only renting part of a home, these agreements still function much like a traditional Louisiana lease agreement and should include required disclosures and legally compliant terms.
Below, we’ll break down everything you need to know about renting a room in the Bayou State.
Room Rental Laws
Room rental agreements fall under Louisiana landlord-tenant law, which oversees all residential rental relationships. These laws govern aspects of a Louisiana room rental agreement, including:
- Security deposits
- Rent and fees
- Access and privacy
- Maintenance and habitability
- Lease terms and termination
- Eviction and breaches
Louisiana law allows flexibility in how rental agreements are structured, with various options for your room rental agreement.
Different Types of Room Rental Agreements in Louisiana
Louisiana landlords typically choose from several types of contracts when renting out a room. The right type of agreement depends on the unique factors of your situation, such as how long you plan to rent the room and how much flexibility you need.
Verbal agreement: An informal, spoken understanding between you and your tenant. Verbal agreements are often difficult to enforce and can result in misunderstandings.
Fixed-term lease: A fixed-term lease runs for a specified period, usually 1 year. This type of Louisiana room rental agreement offers stability for both parties, locking in rent and terms for the duration of the lease. While fixed-term agreements provide predictability, they offer less flexibility if anything changes.
Month-to-month lease: A month-to-month room rental agreement, or a tenancy at will, renews each month automatically until either party provides proper notice to end it. Month-to-month arrangements offer flexibility but require careful attention to aspects such as notice and rent increase requirements.
Required Landlord Disclosure
Louisiana landlords must provide certain disclosures to their tenants when entering a residential lease, including a room rental arrangement.
Lead-based paint: For any home built before 1978, you must disclose any known information about lead-based paint and its hazards and provide the required EPA pamphlet.
Security Deposit Rules
Louisiana law sets specific rules for security deposits. Here’s what you need to know to make sure your room rental agreement in Louisiana is compliant.
Maximum security deposit: Louisiana law doesn’t set a limit on security deposits (La. Rev. Stat. §§ 9:3251–3253).
Pet deposits: Louisiana law does not specifically regulate pet deposits. You may charge a pet deposit as long as you outline it in your lease and your tenant agrees (La. Rev. Stat. §§ 9:3251–3253).
Security deposit receipt: You do not have to provide your tenants with a receipt for their security deposit payment (La. Rev. Stat. §§ 9:3251–3253).
Deduction tracking: In Louisiana, you may withhold deductions from your tenant’s security deposit to cover unpaid rent or excessive damages. You must provide your tenant with an itemized list of these deductions when you return the security deposit (La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3251).
Security deposit return: You must return the tenant’s security deposit, minus any deductions, within 1 month of the lease termination (La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3251).
Rent Payment Rules
There are additional rent payment laws that govern your room rental agreement in Louisiana. Here’s what you need to know to stay compliant.
Late rent fees: Louisiana law does not set a cap on late fees, but courts usually strike down fees deemed unreasonable. You may charge a reasonable late fee, provided you clearly outline it in your lease (La. Civ. Code arts. 2004, 2012).
Right to withhold rent: Louisiana tenants may not withhold rent. If, however, a landlord fails to make necessary repairs within 14 days of notice, they may make the repairs themselves and deduct the amount from a future rent payment (La. Civ. Code § 2694).
Grace period: Louisiana does not require landlords to offer a grace period for late rent payments (La. Civ. Code arts. 2668–2675).
Pet rent: You must clearly outline all pet fees, such as pet rent and deposits, in your room rental agreement in Louisiana.
Rent Payment Increase Rules
Louisiana law allows you to increase rent, but there are certain rules you must follow.
Rent payment increase frequency: Rent control and stabilization laws do not exist in Louisiana. In other words, you may raise the rent as you deem necessary, but you should give written notice first.
Rent payment increase maximum: There are no statewide cap limits on how much landlords can raise rent; however, you generally cannot raise rent during a fixed-term lease.
Rent control/stabilization: Louisiana has no rent control or rent stabilization laws (La. Civ. Code arts. 2668–2675).
Louisiana Room Rental Agreement Breaches
From time to time, even the best tenants may slip up and violate their room rental agreement in Louisiana. How you respond helps determine how quickly your tenancy gets back on track.
Failure to pay: If your tenant misses a rent payment, you may issue a 5-day Notice to Quit. You do not have to allow your tenant to pay the rent before starting the eviction process (La. Code Civ. Pro. § 4701).
Lease violations: For other lease violations, you may also issue a 5-day Notice to Quit (La. Code Civ. Pro. § 4701).
Self-help evictions: In Louisiana, self-help evictions are illegal. You should never attempt to remove a tenant on your own.
Terminating a Louisiana Room Rental Agreement
When it’s time to part ways with your tenant, Louisiana law outlines how you should end the contract.
Fixed-term: A fixed-term room rental agreement in Louisiana ends on the date stated in the lease. In some cases, a tenant may terminate their lease early without penalty if they meet a qualifying condition, such as active duty military service, landlord harassment, or domestic violence.
Month-to-month: To end a month-to-month room rental, either the landlord or the tenant must give at least 10 days’ written notice (La. Code Civ. Pro. § 2728).
Tenant’s right to terminate: Tenants in Louisiana may terminate their room rental agreement if they experience certain life events, such as active duty military service, landlord harassment, or domestic violence.
Room abandonment: Louisiana law does not specify what you should do if your tenant abandons their lease. Generally, once a tenant breaks their lease, you are free to re-rent the unit.
Landlord Access Laws
If you have to enter the unit, it is important to balance your needs as a landlord with your tenant’s privacy.
Advance notice: Louisiana law does not specify how much notice you should give your tenant before entering the unit. Most landlords choose to provide at least 24 hours’ notice.
Immediate access: In an emergency, you may enter the property without notice.
Landlord harassment: Although there is no law requiring you to give notice to your tenant, repeatedly entering the rental property without just cause is considered harassment. In these cases, your tenant can often terminate their lease early (La. Civ. Code arts. 2682, 2700).
Lease Agreement Renewal and Termination
Whether you decide to renew or terminate your Louisiana room rental agreement, state law dictates how and when it must happen.
Required renewals: Landlords are not required to renew a room rental agreement in Louisiana at the end of its term.
Required notice: If you do not intend to renew your tenant’s room rental agreement in Louisiana, you must give them notice. Fixed-term leases generally end on their specified date, unless the lease requires you to give advance notice. For month-to-month agreements, you must give your tenants 10 days’ written notice (La. Civ. Code § 2728).
Month-to-month considerations: A Louisiana month-to-month lease agreement renews each month until one party gives proper notice. To terminate a tenancy at will, either party must give at least 10 days’ written notice before the next rent due date (La. Civ. Code § 2728).
Room Rental Agreement Louisiana FAQs
What to include in a Louisiana room rental agreement?
For a Louisiana room rental agreement, be sure to include key contract details, such as the rent amount and due date, security deposit terms, lease length, house rules, shared-space use, utilities, maintenance duties, guest and pet policies, and move-out requirements.
How do I legally rent out a room?
To legally rent out a room in Louisiana, you must follow state and local codes. Create a written room rental agreement in Louisiana using property management software that provides the required disclosures for you and your tenant to sign.
How to make a Louisiana room rental agreement?
Use a simple Louisiana room rental agreement template from a trusted landlord software. Choose a printable PDF you can fill out, customize with your rent terms, house rules, and disclosures. Then, have both parties sign and keep copies for your records.
