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 Michigan, landlords are prohibited from shutting off utilities to a residential tenant as a means of eviction or to force a tenant to leave the property. This includes utilities such as electricity, gas, water, sewer, internet, telephone, cable television, security systems, and trash collection. The only exceptions to this rule are when utility interruptions are necessary for bona fide repairs, construction, or in response to an emergency situation. If a tenant is late in paying for utilities, the landlord still does not have the right to interrupt these services. These regulations are designed to protect tenants from unlawful evictions and to ensure that their access to essential services is not unjustly hindered. Michigan's laws regarding the prohibition of utility shutoffs by landlords can be found within the state's landlord-tenant statutes.