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Get your security deposit back in Louisiana

Your landlord must act within one month after termination of the lease under La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3251-3254. If they missed it, a statute-cited demand letter is the fastest first move.

30 days
to return or itemize
Penalties
for non-compliance
$29
letter + certified mail, one-time
Start my Louisiana letter →

One flat fee. No subscription. Not a law firm.

What Louisiana law says

Deadline to return / itemizewithin one month after termination of the lease
StatuteLa. Rev. Stat. § 9:3251-3254 — read the official text
Itemized deduction statementRequired if any portion is withheld
Exposure for wrongful withholdingWillful failure makes the landlord liable for the withheld amount PLUS $300 or twice the amount wrongfully withheld, whichever is greater. Failure to remit within 30 days of written demand is willful failure by statute.
Worth knowingThe demand letter itself is the written demand § 9:3252 requires; 30 days of silence after it makes the violation per se willful.

This is general legal information about La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3251-3254, not legal advice about your situation. Statutes contain conditions and exceptions, and legislatures amend them — always check the official text linked above.

What that can mean in dollars

Example: $1,500 deposit wrongfully withheld → recovery of the withheld amount.

Most landlords understand this math, which is why a letter that cites La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3251-3254 and states the deadline they missed is often enough to get a check without going to court.

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How your Louisiana letter works

1. Answer a few questions

Your deposit amount, move-out date, landlord's address, and what happened. About 3 minutes.

2. We prepare the letter

A formal demand letter citing La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3251-3254, the 30-day deadline, and the remedies the statute provides.

3. We mail it certified

Printed and sent by USPS Certified Mail with tracking — your proof of delivery if this ends up in small claims court.

Start my letter — $29

Louisiana deposit questions

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Louisiana?
Under La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3251-3254, the landlord generally must act within one month after termination of the lease. If the landlord keeps any portion, an itemized written statement of deductions is required. This is general legal information — the statute contains conditions and exceptions.
What happens if my landlord misses the Louisiana deadline?
Willful failure makes the landlord liable for the withheld amount PLUS $300 or twice the amount wrongfully withheld, whichever is greater. Failure to remit within 30 days of written demand is willful failure by statute. A written demand letter that cites La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3251-3254 puts the landlord on notice that you know the deadline has passed and what the statute allows you to pursue.
Do I need a lawyer to send a demand letter in Louisiana?
No. A demand letter is something any tenant can send on their own behalf. Our service prepares the letter from the facts you provide and the current text of La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3251-3254, and mails it by USPS Certified Mail so you have proof of delivery. If your dispute is complex or high-value, talking to a licensed Louisiana attorney is a sensible next step — many take deposit cases because several statutes shift attorney's fees to the landlord.