The relationship you have with your landlord can be strained. With the cost of rent steadily increasing, it can be easy to fall behind and difficult to find something affordable. Even so, Colorado tenants have rights. While many disputes can be resolved with relative ease, some issues can be more complicated, and a Colorado tenant’s rights lawyer from SueMyLandlord can help you determine when it’s time to hire a tenant’s rights lawyer.
Your Landlord Is Trying to Evict You
If you have been notified of your landlord’s intent to evict you, and you feel it is without cause or you intend to fight it, it may be time to talk to a tenant’s rights lawyer. Some reasons you may choose to fight the eviction include:
- You have tried to pay or have paid rent, and their records of inadequate or nonpayment are inaccurate
- The landlord violated the terms of your lease
- The reason for the eviction is related to domestic violence
- The landlord did not provide adequate written notice prior to eviction
Eviction is a legal process that must be completed in accordance with Colorado statutes and have an appropriate cause.
Your Landlord Is Not Following Legal Eviction Procedure
If your landlord is attempting to evict you without legal cause and without proper notice, you will need support from a wrongful eviction lawyer in Colorado. Regardless of the validity of the eviction, they cannot just decide to evict you and change the locks or turn off utilities. They must follow the process.
Retaliatory or Discriminatory Eviction
If your eviction notice comes shortly after you exercise your legal rights, such as reporting code violations or reporting complaints to your landlord or management company, this can be considered a retaliatory eviction. For those in this situation, they are protected by tenants’ rights and landlord retaliation laws.
The Property You Rent Is Uninhabitable
Your landlord is responsible for ensuring that the properties they lease are generally in good repair and safe to inhabit. These requirements are designated as the Warranty of Habitability. Examples of violations of this warranty of habitability include failure to address health hazards such as rodents or mold, unsafe walkways or stairwells, and failure to address problems with water, heating, air conditioning, or sewage.
You may be entitled to recourse in the above situations even if you are not facing a threat of eviction. However, it is recommended to speak with an attorney before you stop paying or begin withholding rent to avoid unnecessary complications to your situation.
Understand and Protect Your Rights as a Colorado Tenant
If you think something is amiss with how your landlord is treating you or managing your property, the first step should be to familiarize yourself with your lease. This step can help you identify whether either party has violated the terms, providing clarity to your situation.
After determining what your lease requires or allows, it is wise to familiarize yourself with some of the pages and resources mentioned above to better comprehend the situation and your options.
Last, if you think your landlord is behaving illegally, or you aren’t sure how to protect yourself in a dispute with them, you can call an attorney for guidance and support.
