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 Georgia, landlords are prohibited from interrupting or disconnecting utilities provided to a residential tenant as a means of eviction or to force a tenant to vacate the property. This includes essential services such as electricity, gas, water, sewer, internet, telephone, cable television, and security systems. The only exceptions to this rule are when the interruption is necessary for bona fide repairs, construction, or in the case of an emergency. If a tenant is late in paying rent or utilities, the landlord must seek other legal avenues to address the issue, such as filing for eviction through the court system. These regulations are designed to protect tenants from unlawful evictions and ensure they have access to necessary services. The relevant laws can be found in Georgia's landlord-tenant statutes, specifically under the Georgia Landlord Tenant Act.