Full question:
Tenant is behind in rent and has received a letter from Landlord threatening to have the utilities turned off if payment is not received. Can Landlord legally turn off Tenant's utilities?
- Category: Landlord Tenant
- Date:
- State: Alabama
Answer:
In most states, the landlord may not shut off utilities if the tenant is behind in rent, or force the tenant to move out. Utilities may only be shut off by the landlord so that repairs may be made, and only for a reasonable amount of time.
If the landlord intentionally does not pay utility bills so the service will be turned off, that could be considered an illegal shutoff.
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.
