If my lease isending todaybut I can’t pay or afford to move, does my landlord have a right to switch off the utulities?
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If my lease isending todaybut I can’t pay or afford to move, does my landlord have a right to switch off the utulities?
I could not pay for the past month and he lawsuited me for that.
Asked on August 31, 2011 Massachusetts
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
Under the laws of each state in this country in a landlord tenant situation, the landlord is required to provide safe and habitable conditions for his or her tenant including uninterrupted utility services.
A landlord cannot use self help to force an eviction of a tenant such as turning off the utilitiesof the rented unit as an inducement to force the tenant to move. If a landlord wants a tenant to vacate a rented unit, he or she must use the proper legal process consisting of, but limited to, service of a notice to vacate, service of a three day notice to pay or quit and perhaps filing and serving an unlawful detainer action.
Good luck.
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