1. A landlord or a landlord’s agent may not interrupt or cause the interruption of utility service paid for directly to the utility company by a tenant unless the interruption results from construction, bona fide repairs or an emergency.
2. A landlord may not remove:
(a) A door, window or attic hatchway cover;
(b) A lock, latch, hinge, hinge pin, doorknob or other mechanism connected to a door, window or attic hatchway cover; or
(c) Furniture, fixtures or appliances furnished by the landlord,
from commercial premises unless the landlord removes the item for a bona fide repair or replacement. If a landlord removes any of the items listed in this subsection for a bona fide repair or replacement, the repair or replacement must be promptly performed.
3. A landlord may not intentionally prevent a tenant from entering the commercial premises except by judicial process unless the exclusion results from:
(a) Construction, bona fide repairs or an emergency;
(b) Removing the contents of commercial premises abandoned by a tenant; or
(c) Changing the door locks of a tenant who is delinquent in paying at least part of the rent if the landlord has provided the tenant with written notice of the delinquency and of the landlord’s intent to change the door locks by certified mail, return receipt requested, at least 3 days before changing the door locks.
4. If a landlord or a landlord’s agent changes the door lock of commercial premises leased to a tenant who is delinquent in paying rent, the landlord or agent must place a written notice on the front door of the commercial premises stating the name and the address or telephone number of the person or company from which the new key may be obtained. The new key is required to be provided only during the regular business hours of the tenant and only if the tenant pays the delinquent rent.
5. If a landlord or a landlord’s agent violates this section, the tenant may:
(a) Recover possession of the commercial premises or terminate the lease; and
(b) Recover from the landlord an amount equal to the sum of the tenant’s actual damages, 1 month’s rent or $500, whichever is greater, reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs, less any delinquent rents or other sums for which the tenant is liable to the landlord.
6. A lease supersedes this section to the extent of any conflict.
(Added to NRS by 2011, 1486; A 2015, 1015)