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 South Carolina, 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, and similarly regulated utilities. The only exceptions where a landlord may interrupt these services are for bona fide repairs, construction, or emergencies that necessitate temporarily discontinuing service. These regulations are designed to protect tenants from unlawful evictions and ensure they have access to necessary utilities. If a landlord unlawfully interrupts a tenant's utilities, the tenant may have legal recourse, which could include restoring service, damages, and in some cases, penalties against the landlord. These protections are outlined in South Carolina's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, specifically in the state statutes that govern landlord-tenant relations.