According to Louisiana law, if a tenant vacates a property before the lease agreement expiration, what can the landlord do?

In Louisiana, when a tenant vacates a property before the lease agreement expires, the landlord has the right to keep the security deposit if they have incurred losses as a result of the early termination of the lease. This is aligned with state laws that allow landlords to retain a security deposit to cover unpaid rent or damages to the property beyond normal wear and tear. The intention behind this provision serves as protection for landlords against financial losses experienced due to a tenant's decision to leave prior to the agreed-upon lease term.

In instances where the landlord is able to quickly find a new tenant to occupy the property, they may mitigate their losses, but they are allowed to retain the security deposit until they have had the opportunity to assess the full extent of any economic impact caused by the tenant's early departure. Other options, such as returning a portion of the deposit or negotiating a new lease, do not accurately reflect the legal stipulations in place for this scenario.