Landlord Question and Answer Forum

My elderly tenant of 8 years and is now on hard times ~ basically cannot afford to pay rent and has fallen considerably behind this year. They have also had issues with keeping up their electric etc. Tenant kept telling me that they were moving out and had to wait to move larger pieces of furniture. Their electricity was shut off. I ended up turning it back on under my name to make sure my downstairs tenant had lights for common area in basement. Turns out my problem tenant is still there and now not only is she not paying rent but I'm paying her electricity!! Ok, so my question is, do I have the right to shut the electricity off?? I've read different things and need some good advice! Thanks!

Those are the hardest tenants for me! I can empathize but i cannot afford it! Rental properties are my business. ugh i feel the pain of this situation and wish it didn't happen.

Posted by Adrien l, PA on Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Unless you are some sort of charity, you are being taken advantage of. I know it is a very sad and difficult situation. Ask yourself how long do you want to continue like this? Are you in this business to make money, or not? So, to answer your question, you cannot shut off the electricity. It would be perceived as retaliatory (even if it's not meant to be that way). It would be perceived as constructive eviction, self-help eviction, which is illegal. It's along the same lines as throwing out a tenant's property or changing the locks for non-payment of rent. It appears that it is time to evict your elderly tenant, or to get a qualified family member of hers to co-sign and become responsible for her bills and rent.

Posted by Jacqueline O, TX on Saturday, December 16, 2017