When the landlord’s unpaid bill cuts your hot water
If your hot water is off because the landlord failed to pay a utility they were responsible for, that is the landlord's problem — and cutting off essential services this way can violate California law.
When the landlord is responsible for a utility that heats your water and lets it lapse, leaving you without hot water, they cannot pass that off as your problem. California law protects tenants from losing essential services because of the landlord, and deliberately allowing a shutoff to pressure a tenant is illegal.
Keep any notices from the utility company, document when the hot water went off, and save any messages with your landlord about the bill. This kind of situation is different from an ordinary repair, because it may involve the landlord improperly cutting off a service. If you lost hot water because your landlord did not pay a utility bill, a free, confidential review can help you understand your rights.
This is general information about California tenant rights, not legal advice. Every situation is different.