Can You Be Evicted for Not Paying a Utility Bill?

You usually won't be evicted for not paying a utility bill, though your power may be turned off.

Unpaid utilities are a common problem in rented home. According to the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel, for example, Wisconsin residents had almost $115 million in unpaid bills in February 2008. Only in rare circumstances will a landlord evict you for not paying bills.

Considerations

Utility bills are typically handled by the tenants, so landlords do not have a vested interest in keeping your utilities on. Most of the time, as long as you pay rent and do not violate any other lease provisions, you won't be evicted, according to the American Bar Association.

State

You should check with your state's attorney general's office to find out how your state handles nonpayment of utilities to a landlord. If your landlord gets your bills, you may receive an eviction if you are on a month-to-month lease.

Tip

You should call your utility company and try to negotiate your bill rather than just not pay it, according to Bills.com. If a utility bill goes to collections, it will lower your credit score.

References

• Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel: Weather boosts oveWill my credit score go up if I pay off my overdue utility payments?rdue utility bills
• American Bar Association: What are the legal grounds for eviction in most areas?
• LawHelp: Utility Fees
• Bills.com: Will my credit score go up if I pay off my overdue utility payments?