Q: My friend has been living in a motel for over 3 months, it doesn't meet the requirements for an extended stay hotel.
He is a couple of days behind on his room rent, so they have cut the power off to the room, saying he can remove his belongings, or pay. He intends on paying when he gets paid and has told them this. Is this legal?
A:
In Georgia, the legality of a motel cutting off power to a room due to non-payment of rent can be complex and depends on various factors. If your friend has been living there for over three months, he may have some tenant rights, even if the motel doesn't qualify as an extended stay hotel.
Under Georgia law, it's generally not permissible for a landlord (or motel management in this case) to shut off utilities as a means of eviction or to force payment. Proper eviction procedures must be followed, and these usually involve a court process.
Your friend should communicate his intention to pay as soon as possible in writing to the motel management. If they refuse to restore power, he may have grounds to seek legal recourse.
Considering the situation, consulting with a legal professional familiar with landlord-tenant law could be beneficial. They can provide guidance specific to your friend's situation and help ensure his rights are protected.
Remember, each situation is unique, and the specifics of the motel arrangement will impact your friend's rights and options. Seeking legal advice is often the best course of action in such circumstances.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
