Landlord Duties in Colorado

Landlords in Boulder, Denver, and all Colorado communities earn a return on their property investments, but they also have rights and responsibilities. Understanding the legal requirements and abiding by the rules in good faith can prevent many tenant-landlord disputes.

If you’re a landlord or renter who finds yourself in a disagreement over what landlords are and aren’t responsible for, contact a tenant-landlord dispute lawyer at Flaxman Law Group. You can always reach us at 970-999-0530 to arrange a consultation that comes with no obligation.

Landlords need to provide and maintain a habitable rental property. Such a property includes:

• Essential services. Services such as heating, plumbing, hot water, electrical, and sanitation systems must be in good working order when the renter moves in and throughout the lease term.
• Repairs and maintenance. Landlords need to make necessary repairs promptly, keeping the rental in good condition.
• Reasonably safe conditions. Unsafe conditions, such as faulty locks and doors, should be repaired promptly to avoid injuries for the tenant.

In addition to keeping the property in good shape, landlords in Colorado are expected to uphold their end of the lease agreement. Depending on this contract signed, this usually means landlords are responsible for:

• Collecting rent on time and in the correct amount.
• Handling security deposits in compliance with the law, which includes returning the deposit within a specific timeframe and offering an itemized list of any deductions.
• Maintaining common areas on a rental property.
• Providing reasonable notice before entering the rental property for inspections, repairs, or other non-emergency reasons.

Colorado landlords are also obligated to comply with fair housing laws, which make it illegal to discriminate based on protected characteristics, such as race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, and familial status. This means tenants need to be screened consistently and fairly, all treated the same, equitable way.

Laws also require landlords to make reasonable accommodations for tenants with disabilities. For example, landlords must allow service animals or make necessary modifications to the property, as required by law.

If a landlord needs to evict a tenant in Colorado, they can only do so for specific, legal causes, such as failure to pay rent. Even then, they must follow the proper legal procedures, which requires providing notice and seeking a lawsuit in court, pursuing a judgment for possession. Self-help eviction methods, such as removing doors off the hinges, are not permitted in Colorado.

Landlords in Colorado need to consider state and federal laws which could impact their investment, as well as any relevant local rules. To make things more complicated, the rules change regularly. If you’re a landlord, you may want to work with a lawyer or management company when starting your investment, to make sure you’re compliant and not exposing yourself to legal action or landlord-tenant disputes.

If you’re a tenant and think your landlord may not be meeting their responsibilities, keep any written communication you have with him or her and keep documentation of any issues with the rental. You might also want to speak to a Colorado landlord-tenant dispute attorney.

Flaxman Law Group is a family-based law firm with offices in Denver and we believe every tenant and landlord should have access to a landlord-tenant dispute lawyer when they need help. It’s why we offer confidential initial consultations, so you can find out what options you may have in your case. In the consultation, we can discuss whether our law firm could help you—all with no obligation on your part. Our father-son attorney team has already helped thousands of people, so call us today at 970-999-0530.