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Landlord / Tenant

interruption of utilities—residential

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 New Mexico, landlords are prohibited from interrupting utility services to a residential 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, security systems, and trash collection. 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 for utilities, the landlord still may not legally shut off these services as a punitive measure. These regulations are designed to protect tenants from unlawful evictions and to ensure that their basic needs are met. New Mexico's specific statutes regarding these protections can be found in the state's landlord-tenant laws.

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Landlord / Tenant

interruption of utilities—residential

Individual & Family Legal Plan

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New-Mexico State Code

New-Mexico State Code

Landlord / Tenant

interruption of utilities—residential

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