La. Civ. Code § Art. 2696
Warranty against vices or defects
Operative Text
Art. 2696. Warranty against vices or defects The lessor warrants the lessee that the thing is suitable for the purpose for which it was leased and that it is free of vices or defects that prevent its use for that purpose. This warranty also extends to vices or defects that arise after the delivery of the thing and are not attributable to the fault of the lessee.
Louisiana Civil Code Art. 2696 establishes that a lessor (landlord) is legally bound by a warranty guaranteeing that a leased property is fit for its intended purpose and free from defects that would prevent that use. This warranty is not limited to conditions present at the start of the lease — it also covers defects that develop after the tenant takes possession, as long as those defects are not caused by the tenant's own actions. In essence, the rule creates an ongoing obligation tied to the property's fitness throughout the lease term.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under La. Civ. Code Art. 2696, property owners and managers are generally expected to deliver and maintain rental units in a condition suitable for their intended residential or commercial use, free of vices or defects that would impair that use. Compliant operators typically conduct inspections before and during tenancies, respond promptly to reported defects, and document maintenance actions to demonstrate that any issues arising after move-in were not left unaddressed. Because the warranty extends to post-delivery defects not caused by the tenant, ongoing attention to property conditions is a standard part of lease management in Louisiana.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Art. 2696 of the Louisiana Civil Code gives tenants a warranty-based protection, meaning the landlord is responsible for ensuring the leased property remains suitable for its intended use and free of defects — even ones that appear after move-in, provided the tenant did not cause them. Tenants who experience conditions that make a unit unfit for its intended purpose may have grounds to raise a breach of this warranty in a legal proceeding or as a defense in an eviction or rent dispute. Consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service familiar with Louisiana landlord-tenant law can help tenants understand what options may be available under Art. 2696.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 17, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation