In 2025, Colorado tenants should be aware of specific laws regarding rent increases, which aim to provide a fair balance between landlords and renters.
Key Points for Colorado Rent Increase Laws:
- Notice Requirement: Landlords must provide a minimum of 60 days’ notice before a rent increase takes effect. For month-to-month leases, they are required to give at least 30 days’ notice.
- Frequency Limit: Landlords in Colorado can increase rent only once every 12 months for a continuous occupancy. This applies regardless of whether the lease is written or verbal.
- No Rent Control: Colorado does not have rent control laws limiting the amount that landlords may ask for rent. State law prohibits local governments from establishing rent control laws. However, a bill in the state legislature would change that, allowing cities to pass their own rent control laws, but cities would have to allow rents to grow by a certain amount each year. Under the current proposal, landlords would still be allowed to raise rents by at least the rate of inflation, plus 3 percentage points each year.
- No Discrimination: Landlords may not raise the rent in a way that discriminates against one of the protected classes specified in the Fair Housing Act. Rent increases cannot discriminate against a tenant’s marital status, source of income, or veteran or military status.
- Lease Terms: Rent payments can’t be increased mid-lease unless specifically allowed by the lease terms. At the end of a lease period, landlords have the discretion to adjust rent to more closely match the current market rate or to cover any additional property maintenance expenses.
- Mobile Home Spaces: If the rental unit is a mobile home space, landlords cannot raise the rent if the park lacks a current registration, has unpaid penalties from the division of housing, or hasn’t complied with any final agency order from the Division of Housing.
- Retaliation: Landlords may not raise the rent as retaliation against a protected tenant action, such as filing a complaint.
What to Do If You Believe an Increase Was Not Communicated Appropriately:
Tenants who believe an increase was not communicated appropriately can reach out to Colorado’s Mobile Home Park Oversight Program. They can also consult resources like the Division of Housing for assistance or guidance if discrepancies in rent increase procedures arise.
SOURCES
[1] https://www.steadily.com/blog/how-much-can-a-landlord-raise-rent-in-colorado
[2] https://www.steadily.com/blog/rent-increase-laws-regulations-colorado
[3] https://www.steadily.com/blog/rent-increase-laws-regulations-denver-co
[4] https://ipropertymanagement.com/laws/colorado-rent-increases
