Unlawful Utility Interruption Form printable pdf download

Unlawful Utility Interruption Form

UNLAWFUL UTILITY INTERRUPTION

ATTENTION: _______________________________________

(LANDLORD/AGENT/MANAGER)

I, __________________________________, am a tenant at _____________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________.

On ______________, you or your agent caused my ○ water ○ gas ○ wastewater ○ electricity

service to be interrupted in violation of §92.008 of the Texas Property Code.

Specifically: ○ I was not given proper written notice prior to the utilities being interrupted.

○ You cannot legally interrupt these utilities according to this section.

○ The utilities were not restored once the rent or electric bill was paid.

Unless this service is restored immediately, I will use the legal remedies available below in

section (f).

Signed: ______________________________________________ Date: ____________________

§ 92.008. Interruption of Utilities

(a) 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.

(b) A landlord may not interrupt or cause the interruption of water, wastewater, gas, or electric service furnished to a

tenant by the landlord as an incident of the tenancy or by other agreement unless the interruption results from bona

fide repairs, construction, or an emergency.

(f) If a landlord or a landlord’s agent violates this section, the tenant may:

(1) either recover possession of the premises or terminate the lease; and

(2) recover from the landlord an amount equal to the sum of the tenant’s actual damages, one month’s rent

or $500, whichever is greater, reasonable attorney’s fees, and court costs, less any delinquent rents or

other sums for which the tenant is liable to the landlord.

Rev. 01/10

Unlawful Utility Interruption Form