Q: Living with my bf and his family,separately in the basement, he and I had an argument, they turned the water off on me
In key and I’ve lived here 3 1/2 years
A:
That sounds like a really difficult and unfair situation to be in. Living somewhere for over three years gives you certain rights as a tenant, even if you don’t have a formal lease. Shutting off your water as a form of retaliation could be illegal, depending on where you live.
You might want to check local tenant laws to see what protections apply to you. In many places, landlords—including people you live with who own the property—aren’t allowed to cut off utilities to force someone out. If you’re paying rent or contributing to household expenses, that strengthens your case.
Try talking to them first to see if they’ll turn it back on, but if that doesn’t work, you may have legal options. You could contact your local housing authority or a tenant rights group for guidance. If necessary, keeping a record of what’s happening can help if you decide to take further action. Stay calm and take care of yourself while you figure out your next steps.
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