1.5.2 Unenforceable Lease Provisions

1.5.2 Unenforceable Lease Provisions aetrahan Mon, 05/01/2023 - 14:13

Some lease provisions are unenforceable:

  • Waiver of repair of/or liability for serious defects in residential lease.1
  • Waiver of warranty of peaceable possession.2
  • Waiver of minimum notice to terminate lease when one or both parties have reserved the right to terminate the lease before the end of the term.3
  • Waiver of rights under rent deposit statute.4
  • Any clause allowing landlord to collect future rent due under the lease after electing to terminate the lease.5
  • Waivers of liability for intentional or gross fault that causes damage, and waiver of liability for physical injury.6
  • Any contract made in violation of the Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law.7
  • Forfeiture or penalty clauses in bonds for deed that purport to forfeit the funds paid by the purchaser if the bond for deed is cancelled.8

Other provisions may be unenforceable if their object or cause is to circumvent the law or public policy.9

  • 1La. C.C. art. 2699(3); Shubert v. Tonti Dev. Corp., 09-348 (La. App. 5 Cir. 12/29/09), 30 So. 3d 977, 985–86. However, note the exception to liability under Article 2699 if the lessee has assumed responsibility for defect in the leased premises, found in La. R.S. 9:3221. See Stuckey v. Riverstone Residential SC, LP, 2008-1770 (La. App. 1 Cir. 08/05/09); 21 So. 3d 970.
  • 2Entergy La., Inc. v. Kennedy, 2003-0166 (La. App. 1 Cir. 07/02/03), 859 So. 2d 74.
  • 3La. C.C. arts. 2718, 2728–2729. However, the 5-day notice to vacate required by La. C.C.P. art. 4701 may be waived for private tenants.
  • 4La. R.S. 9:3254.
  • 5U.S. Leasing Corp. v. Keiler, 290 So. 2d 427, 430 (La. App. 4 Cir. 1974). But see 745 Olive St., L.L.C. v. Optimal Wellness, LLC, 54,778 (La. App. 2 Cir. 11/16/22), 351 So. 3d 890, 895 (holding that landlord was not precluded from suing for future rent when the lessee abandoned the rental and the landlord changed the locks and attempted to re-lease the premises).
  • 6La. C.C. art. 2004.
  • 7See La. R.S. 51:1403.
  • 8Seals v. Sumrall, 2003-0873 (La. App. 1 Cir. 09/17/04), 887 So. 2d 91, 96.
  • 9See La. C.C. art. 1968; Bach Inv. Co. v. Philip, 98-667 (La. App. 5 Cir. 12/16/98), 722 So. 2d 1222, 1223.