There was someone who came looking for help on how to handle a house inherited from their parents in Baton Rouge. The house is clean, but they were unsure where to advertise it or how much to charge. Most first-time landlords get stuck right at this point. If we go through the steps one by one, it's not that difficult.

First is the rent price. According to RentCafe's data from January 2026, the average rent in Baton Rouge is $1,248. The June report from Apartment List shows a more conservative median of $1,111. Looking at the recent market, it seems reasonable to set a price between these two figures based on the location and condition of your home. Areas near LSU or with good school districts tend to be priced higher than average, while others may be lower.

Once the price is set, it's time to advertise. Using three platforms like Zillow, Apartments.com, and Facebook Marketplace should be sufficient. Take photos during the day when the house is tidy, and make sure to include the rent price, security deposit, square footage, and whether pets are allowed to reduce inquiries that lead nowhere. I've observed that the more detailed the description, the fewer cancellations due to mismatched conditions later on.

When inquiries come in, don't rush to sign a contract; you need to go through a screening process first. This involves checking credit, income verification, and previous rental history. I've seen cases where skipping this step led to difficulties in receiving rent. Just calling the previous landlord can filter out quite a few applicants.

The contract should clearly state the rent amount, payment due date, late fees, security deposit, and maintenance responsibilities. Louisiana does not have a legal cap on security deposits. However, the deposit and a statement of deductions must be returned within one month after the tenant moves out, and if this deadline is missed, the landlord loses the right to deduct and must return the full amount to the tenant. If bad intent is recognized, the landlord could face fines up to $300 and attorney fees.

If you need to evict a tenant, you must first notify them in writing. For weekly rentals, the notice period is 5 days; for monthly rentals, it's 10 days; and for yearly rentals, it's 30 days. Skipping this procedure and arbitrarily locking the door or removing their belongings can put the landlord in a disadvantageous position, so be careful.

After bringing in a tenant, there are still things to take care of. You need to maintain basic facilities like heating, plumbing, and electricity, and respond to repair requests promptly. From my long observation, landlords who keep up with these basics tend to have longer-lasting relationships with tenants and fewer disputes.

If you're renting for the first time, preparing the following steps will make you feel much more at ease:

• First, take care of any necessary repairs in the house.
• Compare rental prices of nearby listings to set your rent.
• Take plenty of photos in natural light during the day.
• Prepare the application and screening questions in advance.
• Set up a separate account to hold the security deposit.

After signing the contract, there's still one more step. On the move-in day, do a walk-through with the tenant, checking various areas of the house and taking photos of the wallpaper, floors, and appliances. From my long experience, landlords who keep this record tend to have far fewer disputes over the security deposit later. It's also good to decide in advance whether the lease will automatically convert to a month-to-month agreement at the end and when to inform each other about renewal intentions.

It's advisable to decide in advance whether to include utilities like water or trash collection in the rent and to write this in the contract. I've seen many cases where leaving this vague led to disputes later. If you plan to raise the rent next year, it's better to set a reasonable increase and notification period so that the tenant can prepare in advance, fostering a long-lasting relationship.

This information is general and I recommend consulting a lawyer when dealing with actual contracts or tenant evictions.