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by: Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (New Orleans office)
Q.	Now you can hear a sound recording of these questions and answers! Click here to listen. When you are done, click the "X" in the upper right-hand corner of the screen to get back to LawHelp. Does my landlord have to accept late rent?

A.	A landlord does not have to accept late rent unless it is within a grace period the landlord agreed to. The landlord may refuse late rent and sue in court to evict you. If the landlord then takes the rent payment or if the landlord had a habit (custom) of taking late rent payments, you may have a defense to an eviction suit for nonpayment of rent.

Q.	Can my landlord charge extra for late rent?

A.	Louisiana law is unclear on this issue. However, as a practical matter, the landlord may sue for your eviction if you don't agree to pay a late fee. Some subsidized housing programs place limits on the amount of the late fee.

Q.	Can my landlord raise my rent?

A.	Yes, if you are a month-to-month tenant or if your lease allows it. A landlord must give a month-to-month tenant a 10-day written notice to raise the rent for the next month. If you have a lease, the landlord probably cannot raise the rent during your lease term. Read your lease to find out if it says something different. If you live in subsidized housing, your rent is usually based on your income and family size. So your rent can generally be raised or lowered if your income or family size changes.

Q.	Can I withhold my rent if my landlord refuses to make repairs?

A.	No. Louisiana law does not allow the tenant to withhold rent when the landlord refuses to make repairs. Your landlord can evict you for nonpayment of rent even though he has not lived up to his duties to repair and maintain your apartment. There are provisions in Louisiana law that allow a tenant in certain circumstances to pay for repairs and deduct that amount from the rent, but the tenant must follow the proper procedures first. It is best to talk with a lawyer first. It is easy to make a mistake and any withholding or deductions from rent could lead to an eviction action by the landlord!

Q.	Do I have to pay rent if flood or fire damage forced me to leave?

A.	No. Rent is generally not owed for the period that you are required to be out of the apartment due to flood or fire damage. Whether you can cancel your lease because of the flood or fire damage depends on how badly your apartment was damaged. You should talk to a lawyer for advice.

Q.	Do I owe future rent if I move out before my lease ends?

A.	If you have a fixed-term lease (for example, a lease that lasts one year or six months), you may have to pay for those months for which the landlord cannot find a tenant to take your place. If the landlord does not do what he is supposed to do under the lease, the lease may give you the right to cancel. You should talk to a lawyer to find out if you can cancel your lease.


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Find Legal Help On Evictions

Related Resources

Housing Justice Network (Separate Website)

Practical Advice on Housing Law (Separate Website)
By: American Bar Association

Flood and Fire Victims' Rights as Tenants
By: Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (New Orleans office)

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	Last Reviewed On: 10/01/10

Información en Español sigue el Inglés.

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This web site has been prepared for general information purposes only. The information on this web site is not legal advice. Legal advice depends on the specific facts of each situation. Some information in this web site may not be correct for where you are. The information in this web site is not guaranteed to be up-to-date. The information in this web site cannot replace the advice of competent legal counsel licensed in your state.

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