New Orleans Landlord Tenant Lawyers
The relationship between tenants and landlords in New Orleans can sometimes be difficult. The fact is that it’s not easy to be a landlord or a tenant, particularly because landlords and tenants often don’t understand the legal rights and responsibilities that apply to them.
There are various rights and responsibilities that landlords and tenants have. It’s important that each party is aware of their rights, and the rights of the other party. By knowing and respecting these rights, the risk of conflict should be reduced dramatically.
Your rights as a Landlord in New Orleans
Landlords have a right to collect rent from their tenants. When a tenant agrees to pay a landlord a set amount of money for the right to occupy the landlord’s property, a contract/lease is formed. Tenants have to hold up their end of the deal and make their rent payments timely.
Furthermore, landlords have a right to be compensated for damage a tenant causes to a rented unit, either intentionally or negligently. Landlords have a right to deduct repair costs from tenants’ security deposits, unless the damage was caused by usual wear and tear, for which tenants are not accountable. Lastly, upon a tenant moving out, a landlord must return a security deposit to the tenant that moved out with 30 days of the move out date or provide a detailed explanation of why the security deposit was not returned.
Your rights as a tenant in New Orleans
Tenants have a right to get what they are paying rent for: a dwelling fit for human habitation. To this end, landlords have to confirm that the units they rent meet Louisiana’s minimum standards for habitability. These requirements include basic amenities such as running water, electricity, heating, and protection from the elements.
Additionally, tenants are entitled to common areas that are reasonable safe and sanitary. The common areas of an apartment building would contain lobbies, laundry rooms, stairwells, hallways, and fire escapes (essentially, any part of the building which all of the tenants can access). Each of these areas must be kept reasonably clean and safe.
In the United States, and most likely under the rules of Louisiana, it is unlawful for renters or sellers of real estate to discriminate on the basis of race, gender, national origin, color, or religion. Doing so can subject a landlord to harsh civil penalties. Furthermore, they cannot discriminate based on physical disabilities, either. Tenants with physical disabilities, who are otherwise qualified to rent an apartment (they are able to afford rent, pass a credit check, etc.) are entitled to make reasonable modifications to the apartment to make it more accessible to them, and the landlord generally can’t bar a tenant from doing this, as long as the modifications are not too extensive, and are reversible. The landlord can, however, require the tenant to remove the modifications, at the tenant’s expense, when they move out.
Finally, Louisiana tenants have a right to be free from unfair eviction. Typically, lease agreements last for a set period of time, and both parties are bound by that contract. Landlords cannot arbitrarily evict clients while the lease is still in effect.
Contact an experienced New Orleans Landlord/Tenant Lawyer
Landlords and tenants almost always prefer to prevent conflict. In a perfect world, tenants would pay rent on time, and landlords would always provide the services that they’re being paid for. As we know, the world isn’t perfect. When situations demonstrate the world’s imperfection an experienced Louisiana Landlord Tenant Lawyer can help. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can answer your questions, investigate your case.