Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Louisiana

Re: Raising rent

After the initial term of an apartment lease for one year, the term of the lease automatically converts to a month to month lease under the same terms and conditions of the one year lease (same rent, etc. - the only difference being the term, which is one month). The legal concept is called reconduction in case you were interested. What this means is that you have a lease for 30 days, and the landlord can raise the rent as often as he likes (your remedy is to terminate the lease and move out or try to renegotiate with the landlord).

If you like the apartment and want to stay, I would suggest you renegotiate and sign a new one year lease. While you may have to pay a higher rent, you will at least be secure in the knowledge that the rent won't increase for the next year.

At the time you negotiate the new one year lease, you might also try to include a one year option to renew the lease at the same rent, which will guarantee you two years at the same rent, but give you the flexibility of moving out after a year in case you don't want to be committed to stay for more than a year. The option is like a one way door in your favor. The landlord is bound if you exercise the option, but you don't have to exercise the option to renew if you don't want to do so.