SECURITY DEPOSIT ITEMIZATION & SETTLEMENT STATEMENT
(Louisiana – La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 9:3251 et seq.)
[// GUIDANCE: This template is deliberately more formal than a typical “return of deposit” letter to (i) satisfy Louisiana’s statutory itemization mandate, (ii) preserve evidentiary value should litigation arise, and (iii) align with the requested document architecture. Delete any bracketed guidance before issuing to the Tenant.]
I. DOCUMENT HEADER
- Date of Issuance: [DATE]
- Landlord: [LANDLORD LEGAL NAME], a [STATE] [ENTITY TYPE]
- Tenant(s): [TENANT FULL LEGAL NAME(S)]
- Premises: [STREET ADDRESS, CITY, PARISH, LA ZIP]
- Lease Term: Commenced [LEASE START DATE]; terminated [LEASE END DATE]
- Effective Jurisdiction: State of Louisiana (governed by La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 9:3251 et seq.)
II. DEFINITIONS
For purposes of this Statement, capitalized terms have the meanings set forth below:
“Deposit” – The security deposit of $[AMOUNT] paid by Tenant pursuant to Section [__] of the Lease.
“Lease” – The written Residential Lease dated [DATE] between Landlord and Tenant for the Premises.
“Possession Surrender Date” – [DATE KEYS RETURNED / PREMISES VACATED], when Tenant returned exclusive possession to Landlord.
“Statement” – This Security Deposit Itemization & Settlement Statement.
III. OPERATIVE ITEMIZATION
Pursuant to La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 9:3251 et seq., Landlord hereby accounts for the Deposit as follows:
| # | Description of Charge | Statutory Basis | Amount ($) | Supporting Docs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unpaid rent: [MONTH/YR] | “Rent due under Lease” | XXX.XX | Lease ledger |
| 2 | Repair – drywall patch & paint (Bedroom #2) | “Damage beyond normal wear and tear” | XXX.XX | Invoice A |
| 3 | Deep‐cleaning & carpet shampoo | “Excess cleaning” | XXX.XX | Invoice B |
| Total Authorized Deductions | YYY.YY | |||
| Original Deposit | ZZZ.ZZ | |||
| Balance Owed to Tenant | ZZZ.ZZ – YYY.YY = AAA.AA |
Complete invoices and photographic evidence are enclosed as Exhibit 1*.
Landlord encloses a check in the amount of $AAA.AA, representing the undisputed balance of the Deposit, contemporaneously with this Statement.
IV. REPRESENTATIONS & WARRANTIES
-
Landlord represents that each deduction listed above:
a. Reflects an actual, reasonable, and necessary cost incurred; and
b. Relates solely to damages or obligations beyond normal wear and tear, or to amounts expressly chargeable to Tenant under the Lease or Louisiana law. -
Landlord warrants that no further sums are being withheld from the Deposit other than those itemized herein.
V. COVENANTS & NOTICE PROCEDURES
- Landlord shall honor any good-faith written dispute received from Tenant within fifteen (15) days of Tenant’s receipt of this Statement (“Dispute Period”).
- During the Dispute Period, Tenant may:
a. Request reasonable inspection of backup documentation; and
b. Propose a mutually agreeable settlement. - Failure to timely dispute shall constitute prima facie acceptance of this Statement, without prejudice to any non-waivable statutory rights.
VI. DEFAULT & STATUTORY REMEDIES
- If Landlord fails to (i) deliver this Statement within thirty (30) days of the later of Lease termination or Possession Surrender Date, or (ii) wrongfully withholds any portion of the Deposit, Tenant may recover the remedies provided under La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 9:3252, including statutory damages of $200 or actual damages, whichever is greater, plus reasonable attorney’s fees.
- Tenant’s exclusive remedy for any alleged non-compliance is money damages; injunctive or specific performance relief is contractually and statutorily unavailable for deposit disputes.
VII. RISK ALLOCATION
- Indemnification: Not applicable (per metadata).
- Limitation of Liability: Landlord’s liability for Deposit-related claims shall not exceed the statutory penalties set forth in La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 9:3252, except to the extent greater damages are non-waivable under applicable law.
VIII. DISPUTE RESOLUTION
- Governing Law: This Statement shall be interpreted in accordance with the Louisiana Residential Landlord–Tenant Law and other applicable laws of the State of Louisiana.
- Forum Selection: Any action arising from or relating to the Deposit shall be brought exclusively in the [PARISH] Parish Housing Court (or other court of competent jurisdiction).
- Arbitration: Expressly excluded.
- Jury Waiver: All constitutional rights to trial by jury are preserved.
IX. GENERAL PROVISIONS
- Entire Agreement: This Statement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the Deposit and supersedes all prior oral statements on that subject.
- Severability: Any invalid provision shall be severed, and the remainder enforced.
- Amendments: No amendment to this Statement is effective unless in a subsequent written instrument signed by Landlord and Tenant.
- Electronic Delivery: Delivery via U.S. Mail, commercial courier, hand delivery, or electronic means (e-mail/PDF) shall each constitute valid service under La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 9:3251 et seq.
X. EXECUTION BLOCK
| LANDLORD | TENANT |
|---|---|
| By: _________ | _________ |
| Name: [PRINT] | Name: [PRINT] |
| Title: [if entity] | Date: _______ |
| Date: _______ |
[// GUIDANCE: Louisiana does not require notarization for a security-deposit letter, but adding a notarial acknowledgement may enhance evidentiary weight if litigation is anticipated.]
Enclosures:
1. Refund Check No. _ dated [DATE] in the amount of $ AAA.AA_
2. Exhibit 1 – Supporting invoices & photographs
THANK YOU for leasing with us and for your prompt attention to this Statement. Should you have any questions, please contact [LANDLORD CONTACT INFO] within the Dispute Period described above.