MEMPHIS, Tenn. – If losing electricity is inconvenient, renters say losing water is intolerable.

“You can’t live without water,” said Jason Hicks, a renter at Stone Ridge at Germantown Falls Apartments in Hickory Hill.

Water might be a necessity, but Hicks told FOX13 that he and his son Tre lost it completely on Wednesday evening.

“It’s not really cool because I don’t like to feel nasty,” said Tre Askew.

FOX13 spotted a crew working to fix the water problem on Monday. There were also portable toilets around the property.

“You’ve got a whole complex trying to use a porta potty,” Hicks said. “That’s like a slap in the face.”

In theory, this could happen to any renter. FOX13 wanted to know your rights if your landlord cannot provide this critical utility.

“There is a statute that speaks specifically to the situation where a landlord fails to provide essential services and water is included in essential services,” said Vanessa Bullock, an attorney director of special projects for West Tennessee Legal Services.

Bullock told FOX13 that water is considered an essential service under Tennessee Law. She would not speak to this specific situation. However, in an emergency like this, she said renters can provide written notice to their landlord to either break their lease or charge their landlord for alternative housing.

“You need to send that letter fairly shortly after the event has occurred and you need to keep all your receipts,” Bullock said.

However, she strongly encouraged renters to get legal advice before doing that.

“I just really caution tenants from using it on their own without an attorney to help them,” Bullock said. 

Bullock also recommended that anyone with a landlord invest in renters insurance. Most policies are very affordable and can help housing in the event of an emergency.

“I know it’s an added expense, but it can really jump in where the law might not protect you,” she said. 

FOX13 reached out to the Stone Ridge at Germantown Falls Apartment several times over two days. The apartment complex did not respond.