When a Landlord Cuts the Utilities
765 ILCS 735/1.4 — no shutoff by unpaid landlord bills or tampering, and 7 days' notice for repairs
No landlord may cause or ask for utility service to tenants in an occupied building to be interrupted or ended, by not paying utility bills the landlord took on by agreement or by implication, such as with a master meter, or by tampering with equipment or lines.
Who handles this in Illinois: legal aid programs, lawyer referral and the state offices, listed in the Illinois directory.
Temporary shutoffs are allowed in emergencies such as gas leaks or fire, and for building repairs or rehabilitation upon 7 days' written notice to each affected tenant.
Sources for this section (1)
- 765 ILCS 735/1.4 — Prohibition on termination of utility service by landlord
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Illinois attorney.