Retaliatory service cuts and shutoffs
No. Reducing services or interfering with utilities to punish a tenant for exercising their rights is illegal retaliation in California — and shutting off utilities to pressure a tenant is separately unlawful as well.
Retaliatory service cuts might include taking away amenities you were promised, stopping maintenance, or otherwise reducing what you are entitled to because you complained. When these actions follow a protected activity within the recognized time window, the retaliation law may presume they were retaliatory.
Utility shutoffs are especially serious. Beyond retaliation law, California prohibits a landlord from cutting off or deliberately interfering with utilities like electricity, gas, or water to force a tenant out, with penalties for doing so. So a retaliatory utility shutoff can violate more than one law at once.
Losing services or utilities can quickly make a home unlivable, so this should be documented carefully — note what was cut, when, and how it related to your complaint. If your landlord reduced services or shut off utilities after you exercised a right, a free, confidential review can explain your rights and the remedies that may apply.
This is general information about California tenant rights, not legal advice. Every situation is different.