You have an obligation to provide a habitable dwelling, which right now you are not.If cannot get this cleared up with th utility Monday, I think you'd better bite the bullet and pay to have it done.

If something is vital..certificate of mailing (certified mail not guaranteed to be answered) post on door if you want also.

., expecting to use the keypad to get back into the building  So, they were all ending up locked out until they changed their habits. 

In this business, I can't trust anyone who doesn't have the ability to recognize liabilities as it is vitally important to all stakeholders...

It's the spending habits.

Take photos.Generally, if the issue is a habitability issue, the landlord has to fix it asap. 

It's a legit defence for the tenant to say you are in hardship because of your financial habits not their late payment and you are now inviting the court to scrutinize how you conduct your financial affairs.Personally not only would I not be going there, but I wouldn't ever try to enforce the late fee clauses I have in my leases. 

Then they may start trying to pull the habitability card or anything else they can think of to try and force you to keep them at a lower rate.  

What I'm getting at is that I believe you will find that most experienced investors have a habit of thinking through the entire life cycle of the investment, from their entrance all the way to their exit, and typically want multiple exit strategies so that they can still win even if things don't go according to plan A.

Only you can know what it's worth to you to live in a junky old house.Just know that if you call the building inspector in, and he/she says the place is not habitable, they can simply tell you you have to move out.