Landlords may file eviction cases for a variety of reasons: nonpayment of rent, owner or family occupancy (wanting to move themselves or immediate family member into the property), and substantial renovations which would require the unit to be vacated, among others.
There are strong tenant protections in Colorado.
- Written Notice Requirements: Landlords must provide written notice specifying the cause. If it doesn’t, or if it cites a reason not recognized by state law, it may not be valid.
- Opportunity to Cure: In many cases, especially nonpayment of rent, tenants have a right to fix the problem within a set period. Paying the amount due or working out an arrangement may stop the eviction.
- Limitations on Owner Move-In / Renovation: State law restricts these grounds. It must be an “immediate” family member, not just a third cousin’s dog walker. And the renovation would need to be significant enough to affect habitability, not just a new coat of paint and some carpet. ((OR if the jokes aren’t landing: It must be an immediate family member, and renovations must be significant enough to affect habitability, not just cosmetic updates.))
- Anti-Retaliation Protections: Sometimes landlords retaliate when tenants assert their rights. Colorado law prohibits this.
Tenant law can be confusing. Contact us to talk through your situation.
