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 Nebraska, landlords are generally prohibited from interrupting utility services to a residential tenant as a means of eviction or to force payment of overdue rent or utility bills. This includes essential services such as electricity, gas, water, sewer, internet, telephone, cable television, security systems, and potentially trash collection. The only exceptions where a landlord may interrupt these services are for legitimate reasons such as repairs, construction, or emergencies. If a landlord unlawfully interrupts a tenant's utility services, the tenant may have legal recourse, which can include restoring the service, recovering damages, and in some cases, obtaining relief for wrongful eviction under Nebraska's landlord-tenant laws. These regulations are designed to protect tenants from retaliatory or coercive actions by landlords and ensure that tenants have access to necessary services.