According to Lao law, foreigners need to apply for a residence permit to live in Laos. When handling the residence permit, three supporting documents are generally required: the house lease contract, the owner's residence certificate and the letter of commitment. As long as these three conditions are met, foreigners can legally live in Laos and live in friends' homes. Therefore, Laos can stay at a friend's house with three certificates a year.
This means that foreigners can legally live in friends' homes after they have legal accommodation permits.