Tenant Responsibilities for Sanitation

In Colorado, tenants are expected to maintain a certain level of cleanliness in their rental units. This includes both their personal living spaces and shared areas within the rental property. While landlords are primarily responsible for ensuring the overall condition of the property, tenants must adhere to basic hygiene standards to preserve the property’s habitability for everyone. It is helpful to have the tenant responsibilities outlined in a lease agreement to prevent any confusion.

In general, tenant responsibilities for sanitation include:

• Maintaining Clean Living Spaces. Tenants are responsible for keeping their units sanitary. This includes regularly cleaning surfaces, floors, bathrooms, and kitchen areas. It also means not leaving waste or old food in the unit, where it can attract pests and cause odors.
• Proper Waste Disposal. Tenants must dispose of their trash in the proper receptacles and not allow waste to accumulate. Renters must also follow any established rules for disposing of trash, whether that’s putting out garbage on the right collection day or making sure that trash bags are securely tied and not leaking.
• Reporting Issues Promptly. Tenants are obligated to inform the landlord of any sanitation issues that arise, such as plumbing problems, mold, or pest infestations. Prompt reporting allows landlords to take action before issues worsen. When reporting issues, be sure to keep a written record of your communication. That way, everyone is clear on when and how you reported any problems.
• Not Soiling Common Property. Renters must not throw debris into hallways, yards, or any common property. If they accidentally spill something in common property, they should clean the mess up.
• Not Damaging the Property. Tenants are expected to avoid actions that could cause sanitation issues or make them worse. This includes not flushing inappropriate items down the toilet, not allowing grease or food to clog drains, and taking care to avoid other destructive behaviors.

In cases where tenants neglect their sanitation responsibilities, landlords may have the right to issue warnings, charge cleaning fees, or even terminate the lease. However, landlords should not take extreme actions without first attempting to resolve the situation through communication and mediation.

If you’re a landlord dealing with a tenant who is not meeting their sanitation responsibilities, consulting with an experienced landlord-tenant dispute lawyer can help you understand your rights and responsibilities. A lawyer can assist in resolving disputes in a way that protects both parties and ensures that rental properties remain habitable and sanitary. Contact us at Flaxman Law Group for a consultation to discuss your specific situation.

Landlord Responsibilities for Sanitation

As a landlord in Colorado, ensuring a clean and sanitary living environment for tenants is not just a good practice—it is a legal obligation. A landlord is responsible for maintaining the overall habitability of the rental property, which includes addressing sanitation issues that may arise. This responsibility extends beyond simply providing clean premises at the start of the lease; it also involves ongoing maintenance to ensure that the property remains free from health and safety hazards.

Here are some key sanitation duties that landlords are legally required to uphold:

• Waste Management and Cleanliness. Landlords must provide tenants with proper facilities for waste disposal, which can include trash bins and regular trash removal services. Failure to maintain these systems can lead to the accumulation of waste and can attract pests, creating unhealthy conditions.
• Maintaining Clean and Safe Common Areas. If your rental property has shared spaces, such as hallways, elevators, or laundry rooms, you are responsible for keeping these areas clean and well-maintained. Ensuring proper ventilation and regular cleaning of these spaces helps prevent the growth of mold and the spread of pests.
• Ensuring Functional Plumbing. Proper sewage systems, water supply, and functioning toilets are essential components of sanitation. A landlord must promptly address any plumbing issues to prevent waste backups, leaks, or standing water, which can create unsanitary conditions.
• Addressing Pest Control and Mold. Landlords must take immediate action to resolve issues such as mold growth or pest infestations. Landlords are legally obligated to ensure that the property is free from such dangers.
• Providing Adequate Ventilation. Proper ventilation is crucial for maintaining healthy indoor air quality and preventing mold or mildew. Landlords must make sure that the property is adequately ventilated, particularly in areas prone to moisture, like bathrooms and kitchens.

While tenants are responsible for maintaining cleanliness within their own units, landlords must ensure that the overall property is sanitary and livable. They are also largely responsible for the overall condition of each unit. If you are a landlord facing a dispute regarding sanitation or other maintenance issues, it is crucial to act in accordance with Colorado’s landlord-tenant laws. An attorney can help by clarifying your rights and obligations and by helping you protect your rights.

Whether you’re a tenant or landlord, it’s important to understand that Colorado landlord tenant disputes due to sanitation can quickly impact more than just the cleanliness of a property. If a renter doesn’t clean their unit or if a landlord fails to maintain the sanitation of a property, mold and pests can quickly affect the overall condition and structural safety of a building. Mice, for example, can chew through insulation and wiring, leading to a fire hazard.

Colorado landlord tenant disputes due to sanitation can also be more complex than they first appear. For example, if a landlord has a tenant who doesn’t maintain a unit and other renters are starting to complain, the landlord may be tempted to start eviction proceedings because the tenant is violating the terms of their lease. However, if the tenant has a hoarding problem due to a mental illness or suffers from depression and has a hard time cleaning because of it, they may have a defense against the eviction. They may even argue that they are being discriminated against.

And in some cases, Colorado landlord tenant disputes due to sanitation happen due to genuine confusion. Someone who is new to Denver may not know that trash containers need at least two feet of clearance around them on garbage day to allow for collection. They may not know the garbage, compost, and recycling schedule. Renters may be new to garbage disposal units in sinks and not know how to use them.

During move-in, it’s useful for landlords to share a collection schedule and detailed information about what is expected. It can also be useful to hang instructions in common areas, such as laundry rooms and hallways, reminding residents to keep the area clean. Providing adequate trash receptacles and hiring a cleaning service to clean common areas can also help.

Tenants can keep buildings clean by asking their landlords if they don’t understand trash pickup or don’t know how to use a sanitary system. They can even ask landlords to provide written instructions that can help them keep track.

Good communication is the best way to prevent Colorado landlord tenant disputes due to sanitation, but disagreements can still happen. Tenants may think that sanitation means keeping their home reasonably clean while a landlord may want a perfectly tidy unit. Landlords may also want to inspect individual units, which may be in violation of privacy laws.

If you are facing a dispute with your tenant or landlord, the team at Flaxman Law Group is here to help. With over 60 years of combined experience in landlord-tenant law, we offer compassionate knowledgeable representation that protects your rights.

Our family-oriented legal team aims to resolve conflicts in a way that prevents unnecessary claims. We will review negotiation, arbitration, and legal claims with you to help you find the right solution. Whether you are dealing with sanitation issues or other causes of landlord tenant conflicts, contact us today at 970-999-0530 to schedule a consultation.