La. Stat. Ann. § R.S. 9:3252
Failure of lessor to comply; recovery of amounts by lessee; venue
Operative Text
§3252. Failure of lessor to comply; recovery of amounts by lessee; venue A. The willful failure to comply with R.S. 9:3251 shall give the tenant or lessee the right to recover any portion of the security deposit wrongfully retained and three hundred dollars or twice the amount of the portion of the security deposit wrongfully retained, whichever is greater, from the landlord or lessor, or from the lessor's successor in interest. Failure to remit within thirty days after written demand for a refund shall constitute willful failure. B. An action for recovery of such damages may be brought in the parish of the lessor's domicile or in the parish where the property is situated.
Under La. R.S. § 9:3252, when a landlord willfully fails to comply with the security deposit return requirements of R.S. 9:3251, the tenant gains the right to recover not only any wrongfully withheld portion of the deposit but also an additional penalty — either $300 or twice the wrongfully retained amount, whichever is greater. A landlord's failure to remit funds within thirty days of receiving a written refund demand is treated as willful noncompliance. Tenants may bring such a claim in the parish where the landlord is domiciled or where the rental property is located.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Louisiana law should be aware that La. R.S. § 9:3252 creates significant financial exposure for failing to properly return security deposits. Compliant operators generally document any lawful deductions, return the remaining deposit balance within the statutory timeframe, and respond promptly to any written refund demands — since inaction beyond thirty days is treated as willful failure. Operators who have transferred ownership of a property should note that liability under this provision can extend to a lessor's successor in interest.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
La. R.S. § 9:3252 gives tenants a legal basis to pursue recovery of wrongfully withheld security deposit funds, plus a penalty of $300 or twice the withheld amount — whichever is greater — if the landlord's failure is deemed willful. Sending a written demand for a refund and keeping a copy is significant, because a landlord's failure to respond within thirty days of that demand is itself treated as willful noncompliance under this provision. Tenants can file a claim in the parish where the landlord lives or where the rental property is located, and may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand the available enforcement paths.
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 In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation