Tenant Refusing to Turn Heat On During Cold Weather

[Timothy Burns]

I am nearing the end of a lease with my current tenant, set to expire January 31, tenant has become very angry and vindictive. 

Gave 60 days notice that we will not be renewing the lease. 

This is my first duplex that I am living in, and tenant continues to turn heat completely off while temps are at/near freezing. 

Lawyer advised this could be considered an emergency situation so I "could" enter without notice. 

Either way, tenant is continuing to leave heat off and has said they will not be moving anything out until the 31st of Jan.  

[Kevin Sobilo]

Quote from @Timothy Burns:

It's at 24 degrees tonight. 

They've been notified, and are doing it vindictively. 

She's sleeping in there tonight with her daughters and the heat off. 

@Timothy Burns, I would contact code enforcement. If the heat isn't above the legally required temperature they might declare the unit uninhabitable and boot the tenant out until the situation is rectified (which will of course be a day later when they can come back and verify the temperature is back to normal).

I would also call child protective services. The parent choosing to keep the temp at an unsafe temp with children could be a sign of mental health issues and they may need to take the children away to keep them safe.