When a Landlord Can (and Can't) Keep Your Security Deposit
Not every deduction is legitimate. Learn the difference between fair charges and ordinary wear and tear you should never pay for.
Damage versus wear and tear
The central question in most deposit disputes is whether a charge reflects real damage or just the ordinary aging of a lived-in home. Faded paint, minor scuffs, and worn carpet from normal use generally fall on the wear-and-tear side, and you should not be charged to refresh them for the next tenant.
Genuine damage — a broken fixture, a stained carpet from a spill, a hole in the wall — is different. A landlord can reasonably deduct the cost to repair harm that goes beyond everyday use.
Make the landlord justify it
If your itemized statement lumps everything into vague 'cleaning' or 'repairs' charges, push back in writing and ask for specifics. The burden is on the landlord to explain why each deduction is fair — and the deadline pressure of Louisiana's 30-day security deposit rule works in your favor here.
Move-in and move-out photos, your lease, and any inspection checklist are your strongest tools. With them, a Louisiana security deposit demand letter for the wrongly withheld portion becomes hard to brush aside.