Eviction is our worst nightmare for many of us. Not only does it leave you homeless, but it is something that can prevent you from other housing and sometimes, job opportunities. If you suspect your landlord illegally evicted you, you may want to speak with a Denver wrongful eviction lawyer with Sue My Landlord to determine whether you are eligible for compensation as a result. Contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
Why Choose Sue My Landlord ?
At Sue My Landlord, all we do is landlord-tenant law, which means we are involved in these cases day in and day out. This keeps us up to date on the laws and constantly learning and developing creative strategies. Here’s some reasons why tenants choose our Denver landlord tenant attorneys:
- Our team only works on behalf of the tenant
- We care about our clients and will work to develop a comprehensive and individualized approach to your case
- We have recovered significant sums of money for our clients facing illegal practices from their landlords
Our Denver wrongful eviction lawyers are not afraid to take on an individual or a large property management company, and you do not have to be either.
Colorado’s Eviction Laws
Evictions in Colorado are a legal process that must satisfy several requirements. Your landlord cannot simply decide they don’t want to rent to you and change the locks. They must follow the steps in Colorado’s guide to residential evictions:
- Give notice of the issue, whether that is due to lease non-compliance, excessive destruction, criminal behavior, or not renewing the lease (no-fault eviction)
- Start an eviction case by submitting the appropriate forms to the clerk
- Serve the tenant with copies of all four court forms (this can be through the sheriff’s department or process server)
- The tenant should file a response to service on or before the date provided in the service
- Mediation or trial
- Eviction execution
The judge will provide a writ of execution for the eviction if they deem it appropriate. This will provide the date by which a tenant must leave, and the landlord can contact local law enforcement to assist with execution if necessary.
Indicators That Your Eviction May Have Been Illegal
If your landlord does not have a writ of execution and you have not received notice of their intent to evict, this should be a red flag for the legality of the eviction. We see unlawful evictions play out in a few common ways.
Self-Help Evictions
This occurs when the landlord takes matters into their own hands and executes an eviction by taking actions such as changing the locks, shutting off utilities, or removing your belongings from the premises. Self-help evictions are illegal, and if you have been subject to this, may be eligible for compensation.
Retaliatory Eviction
A retaliatory eviction is one in which the landlord evicts you in response to exercising a legal right. This is often in response to filing a complaint of some kind and is against Colorado’s landlord retaliation laws.
Discriminatory Eviction
A discriminatory eviction happens when the landlord chooses to evict you for being a member of a protected group. This includes religion, gender, disability, or membership of the LGBTQ+ community.
Contact Our Denver Wrongful Eviction Attorneys Today
If you believe you have been wrongfully evicted from your Colorado rental, it’s important to know your legal rights. Our Denver wrongful death attorneys can guide you through the legal process and help fight for you. Call us at (303) 974-4487 to set up a free case review.
