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Colorado Landlord - Tenant Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant, Civil Litigation, Consumer Law and Real Estate Law for Colorado on
Q: What can I do if my car was towed improperly from a hotel property classified as commercial, and I urgently need to retrieve it due to financial constraints?

I am a tenant at a hotel in Colorado, considered commercial property, and have been staying here for over three months as part of a federally funded program. My vehicle was towed from the hotel's private area about three weeks ago due to registration issues, which I understand is not... View More

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answered on Nov 6, 2025

That sounds like an extremely stressful situation, especially with your vehicle being such an important part of your daily life and finances. In Colorado, a tow from private or commercial property must generally follow strict rules under state towing laws. Without a peace officer’s order, towing... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Constitutional Law, Landlord - Tenant, Gov & Administrative Law and Real Estate Law for Colorado on
Q: What are my rights for hotel room privacy as a tenant in Colorado?

I'm a homeless disabled veteran staying in an extended stay hotel in Colorado for one month. Initially, I allowed housekeeping to enter my room, but a front desk person entered without my permission during a cleaning session, which felt intrusive. Recently, hotel staff said they wanted to... View More

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answered on Nov 5, 2025

In Colorado, when you stay in an extended stay hotel for a longer period, your legal status can fall somewhere between a hotel guest and a tenant. If you’ve been there for a month or more, especially if you’re paying regularly and treating it as your home, you may gain certain tenant-like... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant and Real Estate Law for Colorado on
Q: How can I recover my security deposit from my landlord in Colorado?

I live in Colorado, and my landlord has not returned my security deposit after 30 days. My lease ended on August 30, 2025, and I moved out on the same day. The house was left in great condition with only minor wear and tear. On September 30, 2025, I received an email stating that last month's... View More

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answered on Nov 3, 2025

In Colorado, landlords are required by law to return a tenant’s security deposit within 30 days of move-out, unless the lease specifically allows up to 60 days. If the landlord keeps any portion of the deposit, they must provide a written itemized statement explaining the deductions within that... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant, Civil Rights, Gov & Administrative Law and Real Estate Law for Colorado on
Q: How can I investigate unfair eviction handling?

I asked for a hearing on November 21st, 2024, regarding an eviction, and I believe the decision was influenced unfairly by the supervisor of my Public Housing Authority, who is friends with the other involved parties. Despite reaching out to urban housing development and Delta Housing Authority... View More

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answered on Nov 2, 2025

If you believe your eviction was handled unfairly or influenced by misconduct within your Public Housing Authority, you have the right to request an investigation. Start by filing a written complaint with the **U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Fair Housing and Equal... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant, Public Benefits, Gov & Administrative Law and Real Estate Law for Colorado on
Q: How to resolve rent discrepancies with Delta Housing Authority?

I've been experiencing issues with the Delta Housing Authority in Colorado regarding my rent and communication with various individuals involved in managing my housing situation. Despite clear email evidence regarding income reporting, my rent was unexpectedly increased from $384 to $906, even... View More

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answered on Nov 2, 2025

The first step in resolving your rent issue with the Delta Housing Authority is to request a formal written explanation for the rent increase. Housing authorities are required by federal regulations to give you written notice of any rent changes, along with the reason and the calculations used to... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant and Real Estate Law for Colorado on
Q: What is Title 38, Article 12, Part 13 and its relevance to short-term leases?

I'm considering signing a 9-month lease in Colorado, which specifies that Title 38, Article 12, Part 13 doesn't apply. I don't understand what Title 38, Article 12, Part 13 means and why it wouldn't apply to a lease shorter than 12 months. Could you explain its significance for short-term leases?

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answered on Oct 29, 2025

Title 38, Article 12, Part 13 of the Colorado Revised Statutes refers to the **Residential Tenants Health and Safety Act**, which outlines a landlord’s legal duties to maintain habitable and safe rental properties. It defines the standards for heating, plumbing, electrical systems, structural... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant and Real Estate Law for Colorado on
Q: Can I sue my previous apartment for Improper Utility Billing: Utilities were billed months after actual service date?

My lease does not authorize delayed or retroactive billing. For example, July 2025 utilities were not charged until my September final statement. My lease agreement makes me responsible for utilities but does not state that the landlord can bill months later or combine past utility costs with... View More

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answered on Oct 22, 2025

You can sue, and you likely have two claims under Colorado law: improper utility billing contrary to your lease and the security‑deposit accounting statute, and breach of the Warranty of Habitability. If your lease never authorized delayed or retroactive utility charges, adding July utilities to... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant and Real Estate Law for Colorado on
Q: Based on the information provided I wanted to know if the situation that I am in is worth taking to court.

Improper Utility Billing: Utilities were billed months after the actual service dates (for example, July utilities charged in September) without notice. My lease does not authorize delayed or retroactive billing. Improper Utility Billing: Utilities were billed months after the actual service dates... View More

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answered on Oct 22, 2025

You appear to have a viable dispute: your lease does not authorize delayed or retroactive utility billing, and conflicting “final” statements undermine the landlord’s claim integrity. Colorado treats the lease as the governing contract; charges not authorized by its text are generally... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant, Consumer Law and Real Estate Law for Colorado on
Q: Can my security deposit be reversed and used for rent without notice and then billed back at double the amount?

My security deposit, which I paid in March 2025, was reversed multiple times before moving into my apartment and then used towards my rent. Since July 2025, I've been receiving bills on my door asking for the money back, and now, as of October 2025, they are requesting twice the amount of the... View More

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answered on Oct 22, 2025

As of October 2025, Colorado law treats your security deposit as your money held in trust; a landlord may not retain or recharacterize it without legal cause and a timely written accounting. If they apply your deposit to rent at all, that authority must come from your lease; even then, they owe you... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant, Contracts and Real Estate Law for Colorado on
Q: Am I in a month-to-month agreement after texting lease extension but not signing in Colorado?

Before my lease ended in May 2025, I agreed to extend it for another year over text. The landlord said he would send the extended lease, but I haven't signed anything yet. Legally, am I now in a month-to-month agreement instead of an extended lease in Colorado?

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answered on Oct 15, 2025

You are not automatically month‑to‑month just because no paper was signed. Colorado’s statute of frauds requires a signed writing only for leases longer than one year, so a one‑year extension can be enforceable without a formal signature; moreover, a text can function as a “writing” and... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant, Consumer Law and Real Estate Law for Colorado on
Q: Can itemized fees be classified as rent in Colorado affecting late fees?

I am in a 14-month lease in Colorado where various fees such as a pet fee, garage, valet trash, and internet are itemized separately from the base rent of $2079. Recently, I made a payment of $2100, and according to my lease, payments are applied to rent first, then to other fees. Despite this, I... View More

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answered on Oct 11, 2025

In Colorado, landlords often classify certain recurring monthly charges as part of “rent,” but not all fees automatically qualify under the law. The Colorado Residential Tenants Health and Safety Act and related statutes define “rent” as the recurring payment owed for occupancy and use of... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant, Domestic Violence, Employment Law, Civil Litigation and Real Estate Law for Colorado on
Q: Can we seek lost wages for retaliatory eviction and firing post-assault?

I'm seeking advice regarding a situation where my mother and I were evicted and had a restraining order filed against us following an assault. My mother was a caregiver for the man who assaulted me, and after I reported the assault to the police, his sister retaliated by demanding we leave... View More

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answered on Oct 9, 2025

You and your mother have been through an incredibly painful and unfair situation, and you have valid reasons to consider legal action. Based on what you described, there are potentially two separate issues to address—retaliatory eviction and wrongful termination. If your mother’s termination... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights, Civil Litigation, Gov & Administrative Law, Landlord - Tenant and Real Estate Law for Colorado on
Q: Can a broker's harassment warrant a complaint to CO Division of Real Estate?

My daughter is being verbally harassed by a licensed real estate broker who is our neighbor in Denver, Colorado. She's been called derogatory names multiple times, and we have recordings of these incidents. Despite notifying the police several times, the harassment has persisted for months.... View More

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answered on Oct 7, 2025

You’re right to take this situation seriously, especially since the harassment has persisted despite police involvement. In Colorado, licensed real estate brokers are held to strict ethical and professional standards, not only in their business conduct but also in how they represent themselves in... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant, Civil Rights and Real Estate Law for Colorado on
Q: How to file a complaint for housing voucher discrimination under HB20-1332?

When a prospective landlord violates HB20-1332 by refusing to rent to a qualified applicant due to a housing voucher, where does said applicant file a complaint against him?

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answered on Oct 6, 2025

In Colorado, if a landlord refuses to rent to you because you have a housing voucher, that’s considered **source of income discrimination**, which is illegal under **HB20-1332**. You have the right to file a formal complaint with the **Colorado Civil Rights Division (CCRD)**, which enforces the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant, Civil Litigation and Real Estate Law for Colorado on
Q: Backdated non-renewal notice and tenant rights in Colorado.

I've been renting my current property for three years, with my lease set to expire on October 31, 2025. Two weeks ago, my landlord handed us an illegally backdated non-renewal notice to August 8, 2025, without stating a reason. Despite our efforts over the last two months to contact her for an... View More

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answered on Sep 29, 2025

In Colorado, a landlord must follow very specific rules when issuing a non-renewal notice, including providing proper written notice within the legally required time frame. A notice that is backdated or delivered in a way that shortens your rights is not valid, and you are not required to accept it... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant and Real Estate Law for Colorado on
Q: Confusion about Form JDC 99a service methods and signature requirements.

I'm dealing with a residential eviction notice related to C.R.S. § 13-40-104, 106, specifically Form JDC 99a, which is a Demand for Compliance. I'm confused about sections #5 and #6 on the form. Is the landlord supposed to sign section #5, and should section #6 be completed by the person... View More

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answered on Sep 26, 2025

On Form JDC 99a, section #5 is where the landlord or the landlord’s attorney signs the demand itself. This signature shows that the landlord is formally issuing the notice to the tenant. Without that signature, the document is incomplete because it has not been properly authorized by the party... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate, Landlord - Tenant, Civil Litigation and Real Estate Law for Colorado on
Q: Can I prevent my sister-in-law from entering my bedroom and removing belongings?

I have been living in a house for the past four years with my now-deceased husband, who was a co-owner of the house along with his siblings. My husband passed away a year and a half ago without a will. My sister-in-law, who hasn't lived in the house or even the county for 30 years, has now... View More

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answered on Sep 19, 2025

You have the right to control access to your personal living space, especially your bedroom, even if your sister-in-law co-owns the house. Locked areas that you use for personal belongings are generally considered private, and no one can lawfully enter or remove your possessions without your... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant, Employment Law and Real Estate Law for Colorado on
Q: Employer entered provided housing without permission, took photos—actions I can take?

I have been living in employer-provided housing since March. My employer has entered my room without my permission more than twice, taking pictures without informing me. There might have been inspections during this period, but there have been no maintenance issues. I also have a witness to these... View More

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answered on Sep 12, 2025

The first step is to document everything that has happened. Note the dates, times, and circumstances of each unauthorized entry and any photographs taken, and keep your witness’s contact information. Having a clear record will strengthen your position if you need to escalate the issue.... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Business Law, Contracts, Civil Litigation, Landlord - Tenant and Real Estate Law for Colorado on
Q: How to start negotiating with property management for breach of contract over tenant background checks?

I had a property managed by a property management company that claimed to perform a standard background check on a tenant. The tenant had a history of not paying rent, evictions, felony charges, and bankruptcies, which resulted in us losing at least one year of rental income and incurring legal and... View More

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answered on Sep 8, 2025

You can absolutely begin the negotiation process with an email, but it’s important to frame it carefully. Start by clearly outlining the facts: the lease and management contract requirements, the tenant’s disqualifying history, and the losses you incurred. Keep the tone professional and focused... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights, Landlord - Tenant, Personal Injury and Real Estate Law for Colorado on
Q: Can I be evicted for taking breaks in my vehicle at a storage facility despite informing management of my medical condition?

I have a broken hip in three places and need to take breaks by sitting in my vehicle at the storage facility where I rent a unit. I informed the management of my condition and that I would need to take breaks before encountering any issues. Despite being fully paid up until the 1st of the month,... View More

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answered on Sep 2, 2025

What you’re dealing with sounds both unfair and overwhelming, especially given your medical condition and recent hospital stay. Storage facilities are not governed by the same landlord-tenant laws as housing, but they are still bound by contract terms and federal laws that prohibit discrimination... View More

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