Except under certain circumstances and subject to certain conditions, a landlord generally may not interrupt utilities provided to a residential tenant—such as electricity, gas, water, sewer, internet, telephone, cable television, security systems, and in some areas, trash collection—unless the interruption results from bona fide repairs, construction, or an emergency.

A landlord generally may not shut off utilities to a residential tenant because the tenant is late in paying for the utilities. Laws vary from state to state, and laws related to a landlord’s interruption of a residential tenant’s utility services are usually located in a state’s statutes.

In Florida, landlords are prohibited from willfully interrupting or causing the interruption of utility services to a tenant as a means of eviction or to force a tenant to vacate the premises. This includes utilities such as electricity, gas, water, sewer, internet, telephone, cable television, and security systems. Florida Statutes specifically outline that a landlord may not directly or indirectly cut off, withhold, or cause the interruption of such services to a tenant, even if the tenant is late in paying rent or for the utilities themselves. However, a landlord is permitted to interrupt utility services for bona fide repairs, construction, or in the case of an emergency. Violation of these regulations can result in the tenant recovering actual and consequential damages or three months' rent, whichever is greater, and the cost of restoring the utility services, as well as attorney's fees.