Water turned off at apartment for non-payment from landlord?
May 30th, 2011 | 
Author: I live in an apartment bldg where i have been having so many problems with the living standards here. I have been here for a year and the landlord wont come fix up my apartment i have made attempts with list letters calling over the phone and contacting a legal aid attorney, the thing is is that the landlord here is a judge and she works not for from were the legal attorney could have help me for free, but by my landlord being a judge working not for from them they wont help me, i cant afford a lawyer and to make matters worse the water has been shut off for non-payment of rent the water has been off over a week. i have a 7 year old and i’m disabled what do i do please help
Posted in Landlord Tenant Law
Until it gets straightened out, buy bottled water for sustenance/bathing, and make every flush count. Remember, it takes 3 to 5 gallons (I think) to flush a toilet.
You might have to do what some self-aggrandizing Californians did in L.A. a few years ago during the drought. They would flush the toilet only once every other day or something like that. Sort of nasty, but that’s do-gooders for ya.
Other than that, you might contact the mayor’s office and tell them this could be a big emergency, maybe life-threatening to some.
I would email someone in the media. This is a judge! No way should she/he be treating tenants this way!
you didnt mention where you are, but here in jersey, the landlord cannot shut off utilities in the house for non-payment of rent. as a renter, you have rights, and you have the rights to a functional apartment. your right to withhold rent depends on what is wrong with the apartment. usually, it has to be things that would impede fair standards of living. ie. nonfunctional plumbing, non-working heat, bust pipes, etc. you need to speak with the township where you are renting and see what you can do. do not withhold payment without doing so, as this could result in your landlord pursuing an eviction notice against you.
It is illegal to turn off utilities for non-payment of rent. I agree, you should alert the media or you should try someone else at legal aid, they can’t all be afraid of this person.
Without the name of your state, no one can cite specific laws to you.
No water leaves the rental uninhabitable.
You need to look up your states laws to find out the exact remedies.
Some states allow the tenant to pay to have the water turned on and deduct the cost from the rent.
Some states allow the tenant to terminate the lease and move out.
Since I cannot give you specifics, you need to call the local housing inspector. They will force the landlord to get the water turned on or condemn the place, which will terminate your lease. If they condemn the rental, you must move out ASAP.