In Denver, the City Council has passed a law requiring every landlord to carry out rental-housing inspections, beginning next year.
A landlord who is planning to rent two or more residential units on a single premises must apply for an early licensing date starting next year. It’s one year later for landlords who rent living spaces like small houses.
Owners must obtain a license or license renewal each four years, accompanied by new inspections. Under the new rules, the application fee for a single-unit rental is $50. Licensing fees start at $500 for properties with over 250 units.
According to recent news articles, renters have voiced concerns that requiring licenses for an estimated 54,000 homes, condos, row houses, and apartment complexes will increase their rents, while landlords argue the need for additional paperwork will impede business activities and ultimately increase costs.
Stacie Gilmore, Denver City Council President, said that a phased approach was put into place to avoid being overwhelmed by the influx of licensees at once. The new law will also create a database of landlords and their properties. This will allow officials to track the availability of rental housing and inform tenants about utility assistance programs.
A landlord who is deemed problematic may be fined or have their licenses suspended or revoked. If, however, both of these actions happen, tenants would still be allowed to remain in the property through the end of their leases.
If you own a property in Denver or surrounds and would like to know more about local laws for landlords, or would like to speak to one of our BDMs, please reach out to us on tel:303-390-4396
