Renters' Rights Regarding Water
Tenants have numerous rights when it comes to renting or leasing, including the right to running water on a consistent basis. Landlords who do not supply water or notify a tenant of plumbing problems can be held liable.
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Landlord Obligations
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Landlords must disclose if an apartment lacks running water. In most states, as in Wisconsin, it is illegal for a landlord to rent you an apartment without informing you of existing plumbing problems, such as a lack of running water. Rental agreements must specify if the tenant needs to pay for the water or not.
Eviction Time
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Landlords cannot shut off a tenant's water during the eviction process. If a tenant is in the middle of an eviction, he still has the right to running water until he is properly removed. In California, the tenant has five days to vacate a rental unit after a court-ordered eviction. During those five days, and the days leading up to the court trial, the tenant has a legal right to running water.
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Penalties
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Landlords may be fined for turning off a tenant's water illegally. If a landlord shuts off your water during the eviction process or as a means to get you to vacate the rental unit, you have legal rights. In California, a landlord may have to pay $100 for every day she refuses to turn your water back on.
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References
Resources
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