12.3.3 Rent Due

If the tenant did not vacate by the lease expiration date, the landlord will claim an additional month’s rent as an offset on the theory that the lease has reconducted for one month.1  The landlord has the burden of proving reconduction in this situation.2  Occupancy of the apartment for one week or less after the expiration of the lease would not constitute reconduction.3  A tenant’s continued occupancy after lease termination would presumably entitle the landlord to the fair market rental value of the actual holdover period under an unjust enrichment theory. 

The landlord should not be able to claim rent for the period after a tenant vacates the apartment pursuant to an eviction notice or after the issuance of a notice to vacate.4  Landlords also often claim an additional month’s rent if the tenant does not return the keys prior to or on the date the lease ends.5

• 1Ball v. Fellom, 406 So. 2d 781 (La. App. 4 Cir. 1981). For additional discussion of reconduction, see Section 10.6.
• 2Talambas v. La. State Bd. of Educ., 401 So. 2d 1051 (La. App. 3 Cir. 1981).
• 3Ball, 406 So. 2d 781; Misse v. Dronet, 493 So. 2d 271 (La. App. 3 Cir. 1986); Baronne St. Ltd. v. Pisano, 526 So. 2d 345 (La. App. 4 Cir. 1988).
• 4Sciacca v. Ives, 952 So. 2d 762 (La. App. 4 Cir. 2007); McGrew v. Milford, 255 So. 2d 619 (La. App. 4 Cir. 1971).
• 5See, e.g., Simkin v. Vinci, 215 So. 2d 404 (La. App. 4 Cir. 1968).