Eviction Process in Colorado

In Colorado, renters have solid legal rights in place, meaning landlords must proceed with caution regarding eviction. If you fail to follow the established legal requirements, you’ll likely have to start back at the beginning, which translates to spending more time and more money in the process. Discuss your eviction concerns with an experienced Colorado real estate attorney today.

Notice for Termination with Cause

Before a Colorado landlord can evict a tenant before the expiration of their lease, they must have legal cause to do so – regardless of whether the arrangement is a fixed-term lease or a periodic rental agreement that renews automatically upon the end of each term. Cause in this context can include any of the following:

• The renter fails to pay their rent, which requires a 10-day notice to terminate, sometimes called a notice to pay rent or quit. After 10 days of a tenant’s failure to pay, you can file an eviction lawsuit.
• The renter violates their lease or rental agreement by violating a pet policy. In this case, you must serve the tenant with a 10-day notice to cure or quit, and if the matter isn’t resolved within those 10 days, you can file an eviction lawsuit.
• The renter commits a severe act against another resident of the rental property, such as a crime or violence.

Before eviction, the property owner must terminate the renter’s lease or rental agreement with a notice specifying the reason for termination.

Notice for Termination without Cause

There are also situations in which property owners can evict tenants without legal cause, but the options are based on the kind of tenancy and the length of the tenant’s residency in the rental. The basics include:

• The landlord plans on demolishing the building and converting it to nonresidential use or to a short-term rental property, which requires 90 days of notice.
• The landlord plans on making substantial repairs or renovations to the property, which requires 90 days of notice. Suppose the repairs will take less than 180 days to complete. In that case, the tenant is entitled to receive the first right of refusal to sign a new rental agreement with reasonable terms – if they specify their interest within 10 days of receiving notice. 
• The landlord or a family member plans to use the rental as their residence, which also requires notice of at least 90 days. 
• The landlord plans to remove the property from the rental market and sell it. The same 90-day notice is required.

You Need an Experienced Colorado Real Estate Law Attorney on Your Side

The dedicated Colorado real estate law attorneys at Brown Dunning Walker Fein Drusch PC are well acquainted with Colorado’s exacting eviction laws and have the experience, legal insight, and drive to help you navigate the best path forward. Learn more by contacting us online or calling us at 303-329-3363 and scheduling an appointment today.