Most residential landlords require tenants to pay a security deposit to cover any repairs needed when the tenant moves out, or to cover the tenant’s failure to pay the last month's rent.

Laws vary from state to state, but many states have statutes that provide the maximum amount of security deposit a landlord may require for a residential lease and the costs for which the landlord may use the security deposit (cleaning, repairs, unpaid rent) following termination of the lease.

These laws also provide a specific deadline (often 30-60 days) for the landlord to return the tenant’s security deposit following termination of the lease—after deducting any amount properly withheld, as allowed by law.

In Louisiana, the security deposit laws for residential leases are governed by the Louisiana Revised Statutes. There is no state statute in Louisiana that sets a maximum limit on the amount a landlord can charge for a security deposit. However, landlords are generally expected to keep security deposits reasonable. After a lease is terminated, Louisiana law requires landlords to return the security deposit to the tenant within one month. The deposit must be returned with an itemized statement of any deductions made for unpaid rent, damages beyond normal wear and tear, and other breach of the lease terms. If the landlord fails to return the security deposit within the one-month period, they may be liable to the tenant for the amount of the deposit plus a penalty of up to $200 or actual damages, whichever is greater, unless the landlord has acted in bad faith, in which case the penalty may be up to twice the amount of the security deposit.