.png){kind=logo}
DENVER, CO– The House Business Affairs and Labor Committee today passed HB21-1121, sponsored by Representatives Dominique Jackson and Iman Jodeh, which would provide renters with additional protections before facing eviction and limit the frequency of rent increases. The bill passed 8-5:
“Year after year, I come to the capitol and fight the uphill battle for more equitable and fair housing laws because for decades, the scales have been tipped against justice,” said Rep. Dominique Jackson, D-Aurora. “To build back stronger, we have to protect renters and finally start making our housing laws more balanced in the face of systemic racism that has perpetuated barriers to affordable housing.”
“Right now, you can be evicted through a court action and have just 48 hours to pack everything you own and leave your home and landlords have the power to raise your rent every single month after you lease has expired with hardly any notice,” said Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora. “This bill gives renters additional time before law enforcement will take action in an eviction, limits rent increases to once per 12 month period, and requires landlords to give at least 60 days notice to raise the rent for people without a written rental agreement.”
HB21-1121 would provide renters with additional time before law enforcement can assist in an eviction. It also prohibits residential landlords from increasing rent more than once in a 12 month period and increases the notification timeline for rent increases when there is not a written tenancy agreement, for example, under a month-to-month agreement.
Under current law, if a landlord wins a judgement in an eviction action, the court must wait 48 hours to direct the county sheriff to assist in the eviction, which provides a minimum of two days between an eviction order and the actual sheriff-assisted eviction. Under the bill, courts can still finalize an eviction order, but sheriffs may not carry it out for an additional eight days after the initial 48 hours, providing renters with 10 days before they have to move out and find a new home after an eviction has been finalized, instead of two.
Under current law, when there is month-to-month tenancy where there is no written agreement, landlords must give 21 days written notice prior to increasing the rent; the bill extends the notice period to 60 days.