Full question:
I live in a rented apartment in Washington. I have been living there for the past three years. My landlord has intentionally terminated electricity and water supply to my apartment three days back without providing me any notice or a good cause. I tried contacting him but he is not responding to my calls and emails. Can I bring an action against him?
- Category: Landlord Tenant
- Date:
- State: Washington
Answer:
Yes, you can file a lawsuit against your landlord. In Washington, landlords are responsible for providing utility services, even if they are in the tenant's name. A landlord cannot cut off utilities without prior notice or a valid reason.
According to Revised Code of Washington § 59.18.300, it is illegal for a landlord to intentionally terminate utility services such as water, heat, electricity, or gas, except for a reasonable time needed for repairs. If a landlord violates this law, they may be liable for actual damages and up to one hundred dollars for each day you are deprived of utility services. Additionally, the winning party can recover their legal costs and attorney fees.
Therefore, your landlord's actions are unlawful, and you may be entitled to compensation for the disruption of services.
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.