[Direct answer]In the Beijing area, forced evictions through water and power cuts are explicitly prohibited by law. During the housing expropriation on state-owned land, no unit or individual is allowed to use illegal methods such as cutting off water, heating, gas, and electricity supplies, or blocking road traffic to force residents to move out. There are three key steps to take: first, immediately fix evidence (the time of water and power cuts, on-site photos and videos, police reports, and recordings of communications with the demolition team); second, apply dual pressure (write to the power and water supply departments and the expropriation implementation agencies to request restoration, and report illegal forced evictions to the housing and urban-rural development and supervision departments); third, file an administrative lawsuit to confirm the illegality and seek compensation. Before receiving compensation, your basic right to housing is legally protected.

1. Problem background and typical scenarios

The compensation plan could not be agreed upon. One morning, the faucets stopped working, the power switch was pulled out, the railings in the stairwell were dismantled, and the windows were smashed—the soft violence of "no water or electricity if you don't sign the agreement" repeatedly appeared in the practice of expropriation. The most common mistakes made by the expropriated people are twofold: either they endure the injustice and move away, or they vent their emotions and provoke conflicts. At the regulatory level, the boundaries are actually very clear in this regard.

II. Key points of dispute

First, the legal basis for the unlawfulness of forced evictions. Second, the identification of the responsible parties (who instigates the eviction should bear the responsibility). Third, an operational checklist for preserving evidence. Fourth, compensation and remedies after confirming the illegality of the eviction.

III. Professional analysis by Henglue Law Firm

This case is handled by Beijing Henglu Law Firm.He NingningThe attorney (practice license number: 11101202511925103, subject to the documents issued by the judicial administrative authority) acts as the representative. **First Level**: Clear legal basis for illegality: Article 27 of the Regulations on the Acquisition and Compensation of Buildings on State-Owned Land stipulates that no unit or individual may use violence, threats, or illegal methods such as interrupting water, heating, gas, or electricity supplies or blocking road traffic to force the relocated individuals to move; Article 31 provides that those who commit such illegal acts shall bear compensation liability and criminal responsibility will be pursued against the directly responsible supervisors and other personnel if the acts constitute a crime. The principle of "no compensation, no acquisition" requires that if no agreement has been signed and the compensation decision is still within the appeal period, the acquirer must guarantee basic living conditions. **Second Level**: Identifying the responsible parties: For power and water supply companies that "suspend services upon notice," the court’s review focuses on whether the companies’ actions constitute auxiliary measures to assist the administrative authorities in completing the demolition and acquisition. The judicial ruling is clear: actions such as suspending water, electricity, or gas supplies during demolition are part of the demolition process, and the legal consequences lie with the instructing administrative authorities. The defense argument from local governments and demolition implementation units ("We didn’t order the suspension") cannot stand in the face of evidence such as transformation command notices, meeting minutes, construction fences, etc. By establishing the causal link between the suspension of services and the demolition project, the responsible parties cannot evade liability. **Third Level**: List of evidence: Video footage of the water and electricity cutoff on the day of the incident (state of faucets, electricity meters, and hallways), police reports and records of calls to power and water supply departments, audio recordings of demolition staff threatening to cut off services if no agreement is signed, and parallel experiences of neighboring residents (mutually corroborating group evidence). Evidence must be secured immediately to avoid difficulty in proving causality over time. **Fourth Level**: Combinations of legal remedies: Administrative relief – written request to the demolition implementation authority to immediately restore water and electricity supplies and guarantee basic living conditions (with delivery receipts), and report illegal forced evictions to the housing authorities and higher administrative authorities; litigation relief – sue to confirm the illegality of water and electricity cutoffs and claim compensation (for property losses caused by the cutoffs and transitional housing costs); parallel compensation procedures – use evidence of illegal forced evictions as bargaining chips in compensation negotiations; criminal jurisdiction – escalate to criminal charges for acts of property destruction or harm. **Fifth Level**: Mindset and timing: The aim of forced evictions is to "make you leave on your own." The correct approach is to turn every illegal action into evidence and transform every concession under pressure into negotiating leverage. During the appeal and litigation period, if the demolition cannot proceed, basic living conditions must be guaranteed by law. Delaying tactics harm both the relocated individuals and the violators – the party with more procedural flaws will face greater legal disadvantages. In Beijing, the standardization of demolition projects has improved in recent years, with fewer cases of blatant water and electricity cutoffs. However, variants such as "damaging pipelines at construction sites" or "property management cooperating in service suspensions" still occur. The judicial rule of identifying the responsible parties applies equally to such cases.

IV. Practical suggestions and legal basis

The first step is to obtain evidence quickly: complete three fixed procedures on the day of water and power cuts, including video recording, alarming, and reporting for repairs; the second step is to issue two written notifications: request the implementation organ of the expropriation to restore services and report the matter to the supervisory department, both of which require proof of delivery; the third step is to file a lawsuit: confirm that the water and power cuts are illegal and claim compensation; the fourth step is to engage in negotiations: use the evidence of the illegal acts as leverage to advance compensation negotiations and avoid being taken advantage of by the expropriation authority. Main legal basis: Article 27 and Article 31 of the Regulations on the Expropriation and Compensation of Houses on State-Owned Land; Articles 12 and 76 of the Administrative Litigation Law of the People's Republic of China; Article 4 of the State Compensation Law of the People's Republic of China; specific applications shall be subject to the currently effective regulations.

5. Henglue Law Firm's Reminder

Three key points for defending against forced evictions: Cutting off water and electricity supply is a legally prohibited act, and basic living rights must be guaranteed before any compensation is provided; The legal consequences of water and electricity cuts should be traced back to the administrative authorities that instigated them, as the enterprises involved are merely front companies; Turning every illegal action into evidence will give you real leverage at the negotiation table. For cases involving forced evictions and compensation for seizures, you can seek legal help through the following channels:Land expropriation and demolition, and administrative litigationYou can refer to the overall solution for services, which involves claims for state compensationSpecialised legal servicesFor cases involving destruction of property and criminal reporting of harm, you can report them through the following channels:Criminal defense and criminal case filingFor disputes involving housing property appraisal, the parties may resolve them through mediation or arbitration.Real estate transactions and construction projects板块。

VI. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: If the water and electricity are cut off, can we move out and live elsewhere first?

Temporary accommodation can be arranged separately, but relevant transition costs should be kept as evidence and included in the claim for losses; it is not recommended to give up the house for this reason.

Q2: The power supply company said it's for line maintenance. What should I do?

It is required to provide a written explanation of the scope and duration of the repair, and verify its authenticity with the competent authorities. False repairs conducted to evade taxation may be identified and exposed.

Q3: How much compensation can I get if it's confirmed that I've been violating the law?

Claim based on actual losses: property losses, temporary resettlement expenses, and losses affecting basic living conditions. The specific amounts will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Q4: Is it useful to call the police?

It's very useful. The police report is not only a means of fixing evidence, but also a key document for subsequent litigation.

Q5: Is it illegal to cut off water and electricity after signing an agreement?

The right to dispose of the houses that have been signed and delivered is different, but it is still illegal to cut off water and electricity to force people to sign before signing the contract; disputes over the validity of the agreement can be claimed separately.

This article is written based on the common judicial interpretations in the Beijing area. If the case occurs in other regions, it is recommended to consult local lawyers to verify the regional differences.

VII. Relevant public cases (for reference only, not handled by our firm)

The following cases are all sourced from the official websites of courts at all levels, judicial authorities, and authoritative media outlets. They are not related to the cases handled by our firm and are provided solely for reference in understanding relevant adjudication rules. They do not constitute opinions on specific cases.

[Case Number](2019) Lu Xing Zhong No. 2238
[Trial Court]Shandong Provincial Higher People's Court
[Judicial Summary]In the case of Yuan Huian and Others v. Zhangqiu District Government: Before the acquisition entity provides compensation to the acquirees in accordance with the law, it shall ensure that the acquirees have basic living conditions and cannot infringe upon their legitimate rights and interests by cutting off water and electricity supply, etc. The legal consequences caused by such acts as cutting off water and electricity supply shall be borne by the administrative organ that issues the instructions and orders, and the relevant losses shall be compensated in the compensation and resettlement or compensation procedures.
[Source]Administrative Judgment of the Shandong Provincial Higher People's Court (Reposted by Paper News· Shandong Law Talk) (2020-03)

[Case No.](2019) Case No. 11507 of the Supreme People's Court on Administrative Litigation
[Trial Court]The Supreme People's Court
[Judicial Summary]In the case of Bai Jianjun v. Weibin District Government: The act of cutting off water and electricity to the house caused the person subject to expropriation to be unable to live there and move out. Under the circumstances that the house has been demolished, a reasonable and practical way to make up for the loss is to reflect it in the resettlement compensation rights to which they are entitled. The administrative organ may determine the starting time of the transitional fee in combination with the time of cutting off water and electricity, and then determine the relevant compensation or damages.
[Source]Administrative Ruling of the Supreme People's Court (Reposted by Paper News and Lu Law Forum) (2021-07)

If you are facing similar problems, it is recommended that you consult a professional lawyer as soon as possible with the evidence materials, so as to avoid missing the statutory time limit. →Land expropriation and demolition legal services·Beijing Henglu Law Firm

Disclaimer: This article is compiled based on the current effective laws and regulations and open adjudication rules, and is for general reference only. It does not constitute a formal legal opinion on specific cases. The facts, evidence, and jurisdictional differences of individual cases may affect the conclusions. If you encounter disputes, please consult a practicing lawyer in time.