Roommate Rights in Louisiana
What Louisiana law says about sharing a lease — who owes what, what happens when someone leaves, and how to protect yourself before problems start.
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Calculate What You're Owed•Joint Liability
Are You Liable for Your Roommate's Rent?
In Louisiana, tenants named on a joint lease are not automatically liable for a roommate's unpaid share of the rent. Liability for the whole rent has to come from the lease's own terms, and a private roommate agreement does not change what the landlord can collect.
Louisiana does not presume joint and several liability, but most leases include this clause. Check your lease carefully.
Joint and several liability means the landlord does not care about your internal rent-splitting arrangement. If your roommate vanishes, you owe the full amount. This is the single most important thing to understand before sharing a lease. You can protect yourself with a written roommate agreement that spells out what happens if someone can't pay or wants to leave early.
Next step
What's happening?
•Subletting
Can You Sublet Your Room?
In Louisiana, whether a roommate can sublet or assign a room to someone new depends first on what the lease says about it. The state rule to read alongside the lease is La. Civ. Code Art. 2713. Subletting against the lease's terms can put every tenant's lease at risk.
Under La. Civ. Code Art. 2713, a tenant has the right to sublease unless the lease expressly prohibits it. A lease clause that bans subleasing is read narrowly, against the landlord.
Even if your state allows subletting, your lease may prohibit it. Read the subletting clause in your lease before making plans. If the lease is silent, check your state's default rules. When in doubt, get written permission from your landlord — verbal agreements are hard to enforce.
•Adding a Roommate
How to Add Someone to Your Lease
Landlords in Louisiana usually want to know about a new roommate before that person moves in and starts paying rent. Requires landlord approval and a lease modification signed by everyone on the lease. Tenants adding a roommate should confirm the process with the landlord in writing.
Process
Requires landlord approval and a lease modification signed by everyone on the lease.
Never let someone move in without telling your landlord. Unauthorized occupants can be grounds for eviction in most states. Get the new person on the lease so everyone's rights and responsibilities are clear. The landlord may want to run a credit check — that's standard.
•Removing a Roommate
What Happens When a Roommate Wants to Leave
In Louisiana, the law does not automatically release a departing roommate from a joint lease just because they move out. Requires a new lease or amendment releasing the departing tenant. If the lease makes the tenants liable for the whole rent, that liability continues until the landlord releases them.
Process
Requires a new lease or amendment releasing the departing tenant. If the lease makes the tenants liable for the whole rent, that liability continues until the landlord releases them.
The biggest mistake: assuming that moving out ends your lease obligations. In Louisiana, a departing roommate typically stays liable for rent through the end of the lease unless the landlord signs a written release. Get everything in writing. If you are the one leaving, push for a formal lease amendment that releases you from further liability.
•Security Deposits
How Security Deposits Work with Roommates
In Louisiana, the landlord holds one security deposit for the unit and must return it within 30 days of move-out under La. R.S. § 9:3251, or risk up to 3x the wrongfully withheld amount. Dividing that refund among roommates afterward is a private arrangement the landlord does not manage.
One deposit per lease. Under La. R.S. 9:3251, the landlord returns it within one month after the lease ends, with an itemized statement for anything kept. The refund goes to the tenants on the lease.
The landlord writes one check at the end of the lease — they do not split refunds among roommates. If one roommate caused damage, the landlord can still deduct from the full deposit. That means the roommate who did not cause the damage may lose their share. A roommate agreement can specify that the person who caused the damage is responsible for reimbursing the others.
Splitting a deposit refund — or the cost of damage one roommate caused — among several roommates? The roommate debt calculator has a section that walks through dividing it fairly.
•Key Facts
Key Facts About Roommate Law in Louisiana
- A tenant can sublease unless the lease expressly prohibits it (Art. 2713).
- Solidary (joint and several) liability is not presumed in Louisiana; it has to come from the lease or from a law (Art. 1796).
- Many leases do make co-tenants solidarily liable, so check yours for that wording.
- Deposits must be returned within one month after the lease ends.
Source: La. Civ. Code Art. 2713
•Roommate Agreements
What to Put in a Roommate Agreement
Your lease covers the relationship between tenants and the landlord. A roommate agreement covers the relationship between you and your roommates. It is a separate, private contract that is enforceable in court. Every shared living arrangement should have one.
- Rent split: Who pays what percentage, and when it is due
- Deposit ownership: Who paid what portion of the deposit and how refunds are split
- Utilities: How bills are divided and who is responsible for setting up accounts
- Shared spaces: Rules for common areas, cleaning schedules, guest policies
- Early departure: What happens if someone wants to leave before the lease ends — notice period, responsibility for finding a replacement
- Damage responsibility: Who pays if one roommate causes damage to the unit
- Quiet hours and noise: Basic ground rules so everyone can coexist
- Dispute resolution: How disagreements will be handled before they escalate
•Resources
Where to Get Help in Louisiana
- Legal Aid: Free civil legal help for low-income tenants. Search “legal aid Louisiana” or visit lawhelp.org.
- HUD Housing Counseling: Free help with landlord disputes. Call 1-800-569-4287.
- Small claims court: If a former roommate owes you money or your landlord wrongfully withheld the deposit, small claims is the fastest path. Filing fees run $30–$100, no lawyer needed.
- Tenant rights organizations: Search “tenant rights Louisiana” for local nonprofits that help with roommate and landlord disputes.
More Louisiana Guides
●Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all roommates responsible for the full rent in Louisiana?
Louisiana does not presume joint and several liability, so it depends on your lease. Most leases include a joint liability clause, so check yours carefully.
Can I sublease my room in Louisiana?
Under La. Civ. Code Art. 2713, a tenant has the right to sublease unless the lease expressly prohibits it. A lease clause that bans subleasing is read narrowly, against the landlord. Always check your lease first — the written agreement between you and your landlord controls in most situations.
How do I add a roommate to my lease in Louisiana?
Requires landlord approval and a lease modification signed by everyone on the lease. Get everything in writing and make sure the new occupant is listed on the lease before they move in.
What happens to the security deposit when a roommate moves out in Louisiana?
One deposit per lease. Under La. R.S. 9:3251, the landlord returns it within one month after the lease ends, with an itemized statement for anything kept. The refund goes to the tenants on the lease. This is one of the most common sources of roommate disputes. A written roommate agreement that specifies how the deposit will be divided can prevent fights later.
Do I need a roommate agreement in Louisiana?
While Louisiana does not legally require a roommate agreement, having one is strongly recommended. It can cover rent splits, deposit division, chore responsibilities, guest policies, and what happens if someone wants to leave early. Roommate agreements are enforceable as private contracts.
Can my landlord refuse to let me have a roommate in Louisiana?
In most cases, the landlord controls who lives in the unit through the lease. Requires landlord approval and a lease modification signed by everyone on the lease. Some states and cities have laws limiting the landlord's ability to refuse additional occupants — check your local rules.
See what your state’s law says your landlord owes you. Generate your roommate demand letter — $19.
DepositHawk is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Information and documents are for informational purposes only. No attorney-client relationship is created. Consult a licensed attorney for advice specific to your situation.