City is going to shut off water

[Lisa L.]

Asking help!

Tenant paid rent but didn’t pay water bill and it’s now $800! The tenant says she can’t afford it. She has no money due to Covid.

The city sent a letter to me saying they will shut off water in a week. And there’s a $250 fee to turn back on later.

The city won’t allow the tenants name to be on the water account. So the account in in my name.

Question: if the water is shut off, is it against the law? Is the property turning into inhabitable ?

2. Should I pay first? But I’m worried that I’ll never recover the money