Flood Prevention for Louisiana Rental Properties

This guide gives general prevention guidance for rentals, for homes in Gretna and Thibodaux alike, with no legal advice. For the service itself, the flood water extraction page gives a general outline.

Prevention habits that work for rentals

The prevention habits for a rental property are the same as for any home: keep the gutters clear, make sure the downspouts discharge away from the walls, check the ground around the home after rain, and look for leaks once a month. The difference is who does each habit, and that is worth agreeing in advance, in plain terms, so that nothing is left to assumption. The owner can arrange the gutter cleaning and the roof checks, and the tenant can do the monthly look under sinks and behind toilets, and report what they find.

A short written list of the habits, kept in the property, helps both sides. It does not need to be a formal document; a clear list of what to check, how often, and who to call when something is found is enough. The list should include the main water shut-off, and where it is, because a tenant who knows the shut-off can stop a burst pipe before it floods the home.

The prevention habits for a rental property are the same as for any home: keep the gutters clear, make sure the downspouts discharge away from the walls, check the ground around the home after rain, and look for leaks once a month. The difference is who does each habit, and that is worth agreeing in advance, in plain terms, so that nothing is left to assumption.

Reporting a problem early

The most valuable habit in a rental property is reporting a problem early. A damp patch, a stain, a musty smell, or a floor that feels soft are all signs worth reporting as soon as they appear, because a leak found early is a smaller job than the same leak found weeks later. A tenant who reports a sign the day it appears saves the owner a larger job, and a tenant who waits saves nothing.

Reporting should be easy: a phone number, a message, or a note, whatever the owner prefers, and a photograph of the sign, taken safely from a dry place, helps the owner judge the problem. The report should say what was found, where it is, and when it first appeared, and it should be made the same day, not the same month.

A short written list of the habits, kept in the property, helps both sides. It does not need to be a formal document; a clear list of what to check, how often, and who to call when something is found is enough. The list should include the main water shut-off, and where it is, because a tenant who knows the shut-off can stop a burst pipe before it floods the home.

Flood Prevention for Louisiana Rental Properties — Louisiana water guide

Keeping the shut-off known

Every rental property should have its water shut-off known to the people who live there. Find the main shut-off, make sure it turns, and show the tenant where it is when they move in. Point out the valves at the washing machine, the water heater, and each sink and toilet, so that a leak at one appliance can be stopped at its own valve.

A shut-off that is known is a shut-off that gets used, and a burst pipe that is stopped in minutes is a smaller job than a burst pipe that runs for hours. The shut-off is worth showing on the day the tenant moves in, and worth reminding about when the seasons change.

The most valuable habit in a rental property is reporting a problem early. A damp patch, a stain, a musty smell, or a floor that feels soft are all signs worth reporting as soon as they appear, because a leak found early is a smaller job than the same leak found weeks later. A tenant who reports a sign the day it appears saves the owner a larger job.

Preparing for heavy rain and storms

Before heavy rain and the storm season, the same preparation applies as for any home: clean the gutters, clear the drains, move valuables off the floor in low rooms, and keep the lowest doorways clear of clutter. The owner can arrange the exterior work, and the tenant can move belongings in the low rooms and keep the doorways clear. Both sides have a part to play, and the preparation is stronger for it.

When a storm is forecast, the tenant should know where to go if the water rises around the home, and should leave the area if they can do so safely. Never wade into rising water, and never enter a flooded building. Safety comes before property, every time.

Reporting should be easy: a phone number, a message, or a note, whatever the owner prefers, and a photograph of the sign, taken safely from a dry place, helps the owner judge the problem. The report should say what was found, where it is, and when it first appeared, and it should be made the same day, not the same month.

After water enters a rental property

If water enters a rental property, the first step is safety, and the second is a call. The number is (877) 624-0105, and availability is confirmed on the call. Describe what happened, where the water is, and how far it has spread. The technician will assess the area, remove the water, and check the dampness left behind. The owner should be told the same day, with photographs taken safely from a dry place.

In the weeks after the job, watch the affected area for new damp spots or a musty smell, and report anything that appears. A rental property that is watched after a water event is a property that stays in good repair.

Before heavy rain and the storm season, the same preparation applies as for any home: clean the gutters, clear the drains, move valuables off the floor in low rooms, and keep the lowest doorways clear of clutter. The owner can arrange the exterior work, and the tenant can move belongings in the low rooms and keep the doorways clear.

Key Takeaways

The prevention habits for a rental property are the same as for any home: keep the gutters clear, make sure the downspouts discharge away from the walls, check the ground around the home after rain, and look for leaks once a month.
The most valuable habit in a rental property is reporting a problem early.
Every rental property should have its water shut-off known to the people who live there.
Before heavy rain and the storm season, the same preparation applies as for any home: clean the gutters, clear the drains, move valuables off the floor in low rooms, and keep the lowest doorways clear of clutter.
If water enters a rental property, the first step is safety, and the second is a call.

Questions About Flood Prevention for Louisiana Rental Properties

Who should check for leaks in a rental property?

Both sides have a part to play. The owner can arrange the gutter cleaning and the roof checks, and the tenant can do the monthly look under sinks and behind toilets, and report what they find. What matters is agreeing who does what, in advance.

Why is early reporting so important?

A leak found early is a smaller job than the same leak found weeks later. A tenant who reports a damp patch the day it appears saves the owner a larger job, and a tenant who waits saves nothing. Report the same day, not the same month.

Should the tenant know where the shut-off is?

Yes. Every rental property should have its water shut-off known to the people who live there. A burst pipe that is stopped in minutes is a smaller job than a burst pipe that runs for hours.

Is this guide legal advice?

No. This guide gives general prevention guidance for rentals, and it is not legal advice. Questions about responsibilities and agreements should be put to a qualified adviser.

Your Next Step

If this guide matches what you found at home, the next step is a visit — not a guess. Call and describe what you found, and the visit is arranged from what you describe. The Flood Water Extraction page explains what that service covers, and the water removal page explains what that service covers when water has spread to more than one room.

Do not enter flooded rooms while you wait, and if water is leaking, turn off the shut-off valve for that fixture where you can reach it safely from dry ground.

Keep the guides on this site bookmarked: the first guide, the signs guide, and the preparation guide cover the checks worth repeating — after moving in, and after bringing used fixtures home.

Water extraction help is available across Louisiana. See water extraction in Folsom, LA for one local example, or find your town on the service areas page.