Utility Service Termination: Notice from the Utility Company

If the utility company is planning to stop utility services for a building with 3 or more units, they have to let all tenants know. 765 ILCS 735/3.

This notice has to include some important information to help you understand what's going on:

• The date when your utility services might be stopped. This date has to be at least 10 days after you get the notice.
• You have options:
  • You can pay the utility company the money your landlord owes for the utility bills. Then, you can take that money off the rent you owe.
  • Or, you can ask a court to appoint someone called a receiver. This receiver will collect rent from everyone in the building and use some of it to pay the utility bills.
• Amount owed. The notice will also tell you how much money your landlord owes for the utility bills and how much the bills usually cost each month.
• Free legal help. The notice will give you the name and phone number of a place where you can get free legal help.

And get this – the notice has to be, on red paper with big, bold letters (14 point font). The words “notice of (utility service) termination” needs to be in a 36 point bold font. 

Plus, it's against the law for your landlord or anyone else to mess with or take down this notice. If they do, they could get in big trouble!