Landlord/Tenant Law

This legal research guide provides information about landlord and tenant law that is helpful to both the practitioner and the public looking for legal information.

• General Information
• Leases
• Rent
• RepairsToggle Dropdown
  • Mold and Pests
  • Remedies for Failure to Repair
  • Ending the Lease
  • Security Deposits
  • Tenant's Property
  • Mold and Pests
  • Utility Shutoffs
  • Landlord Retaliation
  • Noise
  • Lockouts
  • The Eviction Process
  • Appealing an Eviction
  Disclaimer:
  The State Law Library cannot tell you what a law means for your situation.

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  Utility Shutoffs

  Can a Landlord Shut Off the Utilities?

  We often receive questions about whether or not a landlord can shut off or cut off access to utilities such as electricity, water, gas, and wastewater. Section 92.008 of the Texas Property Code states:

  A landlord or a landlord's agent may not interrupt or cause the interruption of utility service paid for directly to the utility company by a tenant unless the interruption results from bona fide repairs, construction, or an emergency.

  If a tenant pays directly to a utility company, the landlord cannot interrupt service due to nonpayment of rent or other charges. The landlord may only interrupt service to make repairs, during construction, or due to an emergency.

  Texas Laws

  This section of the Texas Property Code discusses utility cutoffs due to the landlord's nonpayment of the utility bill.

  This section of the Texas Property Code discusses interruption of utilities.

  This section of the Texas Property Code details a residential tenant's right of restoration after unlawful utility disconnection.

  Understanding the Law

  This Self-Help Information Packet from the Texas Justice Courts Training Center answers many frequently asked questions about a tenant's rights when their landlord has shut off their utilities.

  This article from Texas Tenant Advisor explains the tenant's rights when it comes to utility shutoffs.

  This guide provides information about a variety of issues affecting landlords and tenants, including utility cutoffs and restoration.

  Forms

  This page from TexasLawHelp.org includes an article on a tenant's right to utilities and two forms that can be filed in court: Writ of Restoration Application (to ask the court to order the landlord to restore your utilities) and Writ of Restoration (for the court to sign, ordering the landlord to restore utilities).

  Demand service restoration to your rental unit after an illegal utility interruption.

  In addition to their Self-Help Information Packet, the Texas Justice Courts Training Center provides this page with many forms a tenant will need to restore their utilities or access to their rental.