Full question:
I live in Texas and I have to share my utilities with two other dwellings. My landlord will not separate them and they will not pay their part of the bill.
- Category: Landlord Tenant
- Subcategory: Residential Lease
- Date:
- State: Vermont
Answer:
In Texas, landlords cannot interrupt utility services that they provide unless it is due to repairs, construction, or an emergency (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.008). If your landlord agreed to provide utilities in your lease, they are responsible for paying those bills. If the utility service is cut off due to nonpayment by the landlord, you have several options:
- You can pay the utility company to restore service.
- You may terminate your lease with a written notice and move out within thirty days of receiving notice of the cutoff.
- You can deduct the amount you paid to restore service from your rent.
- If you terminate the lease, you can deduct your security deposit from your rent or request a refund.
- You may recover actual damages, including moving costs and lost wages.
To deduct payments from your rent, you must provide your landlord with a receipt from the utility company. These remedies are effective once you are notified of the cutoff (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.301).
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.