Evictions
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Louisiana Civil Legal Navigator
Not sure where to start your legal research? Try the Louisiana Civil Legal Navigator. Answer a few questions about yourself and your situation to get customized legal information, local court forms, referrals to legal aid, and more. Available for Divorce, Child Custody, Employment Law, and private Landlord-Tenant Law.
The CDC Eviction Ban Expires on July 31. What Happens Now?
The federal order banning evictions for nonpayment of rent expires July 31, 2021. Here are some things you can do if you are worried about eviction after the moratorium ends.
Eviction Dictionary
A plain-language guide to understanding words used in eviction cases. Click on the terms to see the definitions and find links to in-depth articles explaining more complicated issues.
Eviction Process Guide
This guide lays out the step-by-step process for evictions in Louisiana. It is intended to provide information to both tenants facing eviction and landlords who need to access the Court for evictions.
What Rights Do Tenants Have in Evictions?
This resource is about what a tenant can do after they get evicted from a home. A tenant has the right to their own defense against an eviction. This includes living conditions (habitability) defenses against an eviction. Military service-member's protections around an eviction, notice and procedural defenses against an eviction. Retaliatory eviction defenses against an eviction. Title and ownership defenses against an eviction.
Rule for Possession - Answer to Eviction Form
This resource includes a sample answer form that you can use to respond to an eviction lawsuit filed against you.
Domestic Abuse and Evictions in Louisiana
Louisiana law provides certain protections from evictions based on incidents of domestic abuse. This discusses how tenants can claim protection from eviction based on domestic abuse and when a landlord can evict a tenant even though there has been an incident of domestic abuse on the leased premises.
Early Lease Cancellation
This resource covers situations in which a landlord or tenant wants to end a rental agreement early, in order to have the tenant leave before the lease specifies. This could be in situations where the tenant is unhappy with the housing, and wants to leave early. Or, it could be when the landlord wants to have the tenant leave, even though the lease is for a longer term.
What Should I Do if I Missed My Court Date for an Eviction?
If a person misses a court date in an eviction proceeding, the Court may enter a judgment of eviction. This article explains some options for people who missed their court date.
Flood and Fire Victims' Rights as Tenants
Common questions asked by tenants who suffer flood or fire damage.
Talking to your Landlord When You Can't Pay Rent
This resource gives you guidance for asking your landlord to change your rent due date or amount, waive late fees, and/or agree not to evict you. This also has a link to a letter creator. Simply answer a few questions and get a customized letter to share with your landlord.
Common Questions About Leases
Questions and answers about leases and what a tenant should think about before signing a lease.
Differences in Landlord-Tenant Law in Louisiana
Residential rentals are governed by the Uniform Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (URLTA) in many states. Not Louisiana. Here are several important ways landlord-tenant law is different in Louisiana.
About Eviction in Bond for Deed and Rent to Own Agreements in Louisiana
The eviction processes for two types of contracts less-commonly used in Louisiana for the transfer of residential property: bond for deed and rent to own.
Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) site covering topics in: (1) housing- avoiding foreclosure, buying a home, home improvements, homes for sale, HUD homes, senior citizens, homelessness, veterans; (2) fairness- including fair lending, housing discrimination and disabled persons, and; (3) rental assistance- housing choice voucher program (Section 8), Search for an apartment, contact a housing counseling agency.
Issue Guide: Asking the Court for a Fee Delayer Application - In Forma Pauper (IFP)
The law says an "individual who is unable to pay the costs of court because of his poverty and lack of means" may file without paying court costs. This is called filing in forma pauperis (IFP). It is important to know that filing the affidavit with the court does not automatically lead to IFP status.
Leases and Rental Agreements for Residential Rental Property
This resource covers the process of receiving, understanding, negotiating, and signing a lease between a landlord and tenant. This includes how a tenant can ensure the lease is fair, raise any objections, protect their rights, and deal with other issues with the lease. It can also be about how to understand, modify, or challenge a lease after signing it.
Louisiana Landlords' Rights and Responsibilities
Individuals who let out their property to residential tenants have responsibilities under Louisiana law and their rights to the leased property are limited during the term of the tenant's lease. This article lays out a landlord's rights to their property and responsibilities to tenants during a residential lease.
NOLA Foreclosure Prevention & Mortgage Assistance Project Homeowner Application
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (SLLS) has been awarded $3,000,000 in funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) supplemental Community Development Block Grant funds from the City of New Orleans Office of Community Development. These funds are being targeted to our new Foreclosure Prevention & Mortgage Assistance Project to assist low-income homeowners in New Orleans who have been impacted by COVID-19 who are now facing foreclosure due to their inability to pay their mortgage. The project combines legal assistance with the ability to pay mortgage arrears assistance for eligible homeowners.
Public Housing and HUD Multifamily Tenants - New Notice Requirements Effective 11/08/2021
On November 8, 2021 a set of new HUD regulations went into effect which require Landlords at the above properties must provide more notice to tenants before evicting them for nonpayment of rent during certain federally-declared disasters.
Tenants Living in Federal Subsidized Housing
This resource covers information about tenants living in federal subsidized housing. (i.e. Section 8 voucher-recipients). This resource includes information about applicable federal housing laws to subsidized housing.
What Can I Do When My Landlord Won't Make Repairs
Tenants can use the repair and deduct procedure to make necessary repair(s) and deduct the cost from rent. The repair and deduction can be tricky and doing it wrong can lead to eviction and damage costs. This helps to explain the process including requirements about notice and legal standards. The process as explained will help a tenant follow the proper procedure to deduct costs for a repair.
What Happens to a Lease When the Property is Sold or Foreclosed on?
This resource goes over what happens to a lease when the property is sold to someone else, foreclosed upon, or auctioned at a tax sale. Content adapted from Southeast Louisiana Legal Services resources.
NOLA Foreclosure Prevention & Mortgage Assistance Project Homeowner Application
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (SLLS) has been awarded $3,000,000 in funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) supplemental Community Development Block Grant funds from the City of New Orleans Office of Community Development. These funds are being targeted to our new Foreclosure Prevention & Mortgage Assistance Project to assist low-income homeowners in New Orleans who have been impacted by COVID-19 who are now facing foreclosure due to their inability to pay their mortgage. The project combines legal assistance with the ability to pay mortgage arrears assistance for eligible homeowners.