[Colorado-Talk] Info for Renters

[Jessica Sears]

Hello,

Thanks. Will be moving into an apt around Nov.-Jan. timeframe. Super helpful.
Jessica

On 8/8/23, Tim Keenan via Colorado-Talk <colorado-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hi, all,
>
>
>
> With the recent messages from people moving into the state, and because I'm
> sure many of us rent, I thought people might find this helpful. This is a
> recap from the Denver Post about three new laws that just went into effect.
> I think the Income Requirement limitations might prove particularly
> valuable
> because in my search, many places required that you earn three times as
> much
> as your rent, which I did not.
>
>
>
> Anyway, here it is:
>
> Applications
>
> HB23-1099 allows renters to re-use rental applications - like background
> screeners - across multiple prospective landlords, so long as the report is
> no more than 30 days old. Landlords are required to tell applicants about
> the portable background screeners. If a landlord rejects a prospective
> tenant's application, the landlord must provide a copy of the background
> screener that they used, and tenants are allowed to contest that report's
> contents.
>
> Proponents say the new law will cut down on application fees, which can add
> up during apartment hunts.
>
> Lease agreements
>
> HB23-1095 institutes new regulations around what can and can't be included
> in lease agreements. The new law prohibits landlords from requiring that
> tenants waive certain legal rights in their leases, like the ability to
> participate in class-action lawsuits or jury trials. It also prohibits
> landlords from charging renters a penalty if the renter doesn't give notice
> that they aren't renewing their lease. Landlords can charge a fee, though,
> if they suffered an actual loss because they didn't receive notice.
>
> The new law also limits how much landlords can charge in third-party fees,
> like for pest control or trash collection.
>
> Rep. Steven Woodrow, a Denver Democrat who co-sponsored the bill, said in a
> statement that the law prohibits "traps that some landlords have used to
> take advantage of unsuspecting tenants."
>
> Income requirements
>
> SB23-184 sets limits on how much income landlords can require a tenant to
> earn. Under the law, income requirements are capped at double the cost of
> rent. Proponents have said that some landlords previously required that
> tenants make three to five times as much as they'd pay in rent.
>
> The law also caps security deposits at double the cost of a month's rent,
> and it limits how a landlord can use a prospective tenant's credit or
> rental
> history.
>
>
>
>
>
> Cheers,
>
> Tim
>
>
>
>