Results 1 to 2 of 2

Hybrid View

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Posts
    13,916

    Default Can a Landlord Shut Off Electricity That is in The Landlord's Name

    A landlord in Georgia rented out a home with the understanding that the electricity would remain in the landlord's name, but that the tenant would pay the bill. The tenant has not paid the electrical bill. Can the landlord shut off the power?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Behind a Desk
    Posts
    98,846

    Default Re: Can a Landlord Shut Off Electricity That is in The Landlord's Name

    No, that would not be permitted.

    Any landlord who would set up such an arrangement is an amateur, so he probably should consult a real estate lawyer who handles eviction cases.

    Depending on the terms of the lease, if there is a lease, the landlord may be able to treat the nonpayment of electricity as non-payment of rent; otherwise he would have to give longer notice to the tenant alleging that nonpayment of the bill is a material breach of the lease. At the end of the proper notice period, if the money remains unpaid, the landlord can commence an eviction lawsuit.

    The landlord should get the electricity into the tenant's name, if he has not impaired his ability to do so through a poorly drafted rental agreement. In the future, unless he plans to include electricity (or other utilities) in the rent, the landlord should provide for future tenants to transfer utilities into their own names. A real estate lawyer can help the landlord draft an appropriate lease agreement.

    1. Sponsored Links
       

Similar Threads

  1. Unlawful Eviction: Landlord Shut Off the Water
    By Riverside888 in forum Landlord-Tenant Law
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 12-17-2015, 03:52 AM
  2. Rent and Utilities: Turned in the Keys but Landlord Wants Me to Pay Electricity
    By mute1 in forum Landlord-Tenant Law
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 05-31-2012, 10:03 AM
  3. Moving Out: Shut Off Electricity, Non-Payment of Rent
    By KShae in forum Landlord-Tenant Law
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 12-28-2010, 01:51 PM
  4. Repossession: Repo-Men Shut Off Electricity
    By ...Headache... in forum Cars and Dealerships
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 03-16-2010, 06:46 PM
  5. Roommates: legally can someone shut off a roommates electricity?
    By Skellie in forum Landlord-Tenant Law
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 12-24-2005, 12:21 PM
 
 
Sponsored Links

Legal Help, Information and Resources