10.7.2 Lessor’s Privilege

La. C.C. arts. 2707–2710 grant the landlord a privilege over the tenant’s property located on the leased real estate to secure payment of rent and other lease obligations. Occasionally, a landlord will seize a tenant’s property for unpaid rent. Enforcement of a lessor’s privilege requires judicial process, e.g., a writ of sequestration.1  Wrongful seizure will subject the landlord to damages and attorney fees.2  Seizure of property exempt under La. R.S. 13:3881 is a wrongful seizure.3  Most of a tenant’s property will be exempt from seizure under La. R.S. 13:3881. Thus, a landlord who seizes property will often be liable for wrongful seizure.4

• 1La. C.C. art. 2707 cmt. d. The landlord does not have to post security for a writ of sequestration. La. C.C.P. art. 3575.
• 2La. C.C.P. art. 3506; Horacek v. Watson, 2011-1345 (La. App. 3 Cir. 3/7/12), 86 So. 3d 766.
• 3Girgis v. Macaluso Realty Co., Inc., 2000-0753 (La. App. 4 Cir. 01/31/01), 778 So. 2d 1210; Belle v. Chase, 468 So. 2d 744 (La. App. 5 Cir. 1985); Oubre v. Hinchman, 365 So. 2d 17 (La. App. 4 Cir. 1978).
• 4Oubre, 365 So. 2d 17.