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Free Louisiana Move-In /
Move-Out Inspection Checklist Template

Last reviewed September 2026

Written by LawLease Editorial

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Louisiana Move-In / Move-Out Inspection Checklist

This Move-In / Move-Out Inspection Checklist is built with Louisiana as the governing state. These are the Louisiana landlord-tenant rules that most often bear on it, with the statute for each.

Louisiana rules at a glance

Louisiana rules for a Move-In / Move-Out Inspection Checklist
Security deposit limitNo statutory cap
Deposit return1 month after the lease ends; since Aug. 1, 2026 the itemized statement may follow up to 15 days laterLa. R.S. 9:3251(A)
Itemized statementIf any part is kept, the landlord must send an itemized statement of the amounts retained and the reasons. Act 63 of 2026 (effective August 1, 2026) lets that statement go out within one month of termination or within 15 days after that one-month mark — the deadline for returning the deposit itself did not change.
Deposit rightsThe one-month return rule and the $300-or-double penalty for willful retention apply by statute, regardless of what the lease says (R.S. 9:3251–9:3252).

Security deposits in Louisiana

Louisiana places no limit on the amount of a security deposit. The rules focus on what the landlord may keep and how quickly the balance comes back (La. R.S. 9:3251).

  • What can be kept — Only what is reasonably necessary to remedy the tenant’s default or to remedy unreasonable wear to the premises — normal wear and tear can’t be charged (R.S. 9:3251(A)).
  • Return deadline — The deposit must be returned within one month after the lease terminates (R.S. 9:3251(A)).
  • Itemized statement — If any part is kept, the landlord must send an itemized statement of the amounts retained and the reasons. Act 63 of 2026 (effective August 1, 2026) lets that statement go out within one month of termination or within 15 days after that one-month mark — the deadline for returning the deposit itself did not change.
  • Abandonment — The one-month return rule doesn’t apply when the tenant abandons the premises, either without giving the required notice or before the lease ends (R.S. 9:3251(C)).
  • Penalty — Willful failure to comply lets the tenant recover the amount wrongfully kept plus $300 or twice that amount, whichever is greater. Not refunding within 30 days after the tenant’s written demand counts as willful (R.S. 9:3252). The court may award attorney fees to the prevailing party (R.S. 9:3253).

Tenant protections you can’t waive

  • Health & safety defects — In a residential lease, a waiver of warranty is ineffective for defects that seriously affect health or safety, or for defects the landlord knew or should have known of and the tenant didn’t (art. 2699).
  • Liability limits — A clause that in advance excludes or limits a party’s liability for intentional or gross fault, or for causing physical injury, is null (art. 2004).
  • Deposit rights — The one-month return rule and the $300-or-double penalty for willful retention apply by statute, regardless of what the lease says (R.S. 9:3251–9:3252).
  • Retaliation — Louisiana has no general anti-retaliation statute for private rentals; courts have recognized “abuse of right” as a possible eviction defense, and New Orleans adds a local presumption of retaliation for non-renewals after a tenant seeks habitable housing.

Louisiana Move-In / Move-Out Inspection Checklist FAQs

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Louisiana?

Louisiana sets no maximum deposit. The landlord may keep only what’s reasonably necessary to remedy the tenant’s default or unreasonable wear to the premises (La. R.S. 9:3251).

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Louisiana?

One month after the lease terminates. If any part is kept, an itemized statement of the amounts and reasons is required — and under Act 63 of 2026 (effective August 1, 2026), that statement may be sent up to 15 days after the one-month mark. Willful noncompliance costs the landlord $300 or twice the amount wrongfully kept, whichever is greater (R.S. 9:3251–9:3252).

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