1.3.6 Required Notice to Applicants Regarding Screening

In 2021, Louisiana passed limited and largely unenforceable protections for tenants who may have evictions, criminal convictions, or other adverse information on their records.1  Under current law, a lessor may not charge an application fee unless, prior to accepting payment, the lessor gives written notice of: (1) the amount of the fee; (2) whether the lessor considers credit scores, employment history, criminal history, or eviction records; and (3) the applicant’s right to share a statement of 200 words or less explaining that the applicant has experienced financial hardship due to a state or federally declared disaster.2  Tenants do not have a cause of action to enforce this law, but may be able to make a complaint to the Attorney General’s consumer protection division.3

• 1La. R.S. 9:3258.1.
• 2La. R.S. 9:3258.1(A).
• 3La. R.S. 9:3258.1(D).