Hi, I am going through my first eviction process with our first i

[Cindy J powers]

My name is Cindy, and my husband and I are new to investing. When we closed our first property out of state in Indianapolis, it came with tenant rights. We gave them their 30 days notice, and they were not happy about it, so they decided not to pay rent. Now we are taking it to court. We submitted paperwork for eviction and still waiting to get a court date. Now they stop paying for utilities, I honestly want to stop paying for utilities, but I don’t know if that would affect us since we are trying to kick them out of the property. Did anyone ever experience anything like this before? 

[Rodney Sums]

Quote from @Cindy J powers:

My name is Cindy, and my husband and I are new to investing. When we closed our first property out of state in Indianapolis, it came with tenant rights. We gave them their 30 days notice, and they were not happy about it, so they decided not to pay rent. Now we are taking it to court. We submitted paperwork for eviction and still waiting to get a court date. Now they stop paying for utilities, I honestly want to stop paying for utilities, but I don’t know if that would affect us since we are trying to kick them out of the property. Did anyone ever experience anything like this before? 

Before you do anything, especially cutting off utilities, call and retain the services of an eviction attorney immediately to know your rights and responsibilities. Being new to the game, get a property manager for your next tenant.  When you're dealing with tenants that retaliate that way, you risk giving them an edge and an opportunity to sue you making a mistake how you handle them.  And they will because they're mad and ain't got no money.  

As @Michael H.mentioned there are areas where a given utility remains with the property meaning, they may bill the tenant but if they don't pay, then the utility company will come after you the owner for the money.