#613: 8 Colorado Landlord Laws You Need to Know in 2026

2026 Colorado landlord laws introduced more housing-related bills than any year in recent memory — and landlords nearly paid a steep price. One proposal would have let tenants halt evictions mid-process with claims as vague as “transportation issues.” Another would have required landlords to attach a full lease to every demand notice. Neither passed — but the margin was closer than most investors realize. Chris Lopez sits down with Brandon Scholten, owner of Keyrenter Denver and a deeply active voice in Colorado landlord advocacy. Brandon manages over 1,100 doors across the metro area and has held a personal rental portfolio since 2012. He’s been tracking Colorado’s housing legislation for years and came to this conversation with his most detailed briefing yet. If you own rentals in Colorado, understanding Colorado landlord laws in 2026 is no longer optional. This episode covers every bill that moved through the session — what passed, what was killed, and what’s quietly still working its way through the process. Brandon breaks down real case studies from his own managed properties, including a mold remediation on Laden Street that triggered the new habitability law’s full alternate housing requirements, and a domestic violence case where both spouses filed simultaneously. In This Episode We Cover: The eviction bill that nearly passed — and the 80 people who showed up to stop it Colorado’s new utility billing clarification: how to allocate shared utilities without sub-metering (which was running $9,000+ per building) What the warranty of habitability expansion actually requires when a tenant reports mold — 72-hour containment, alternate housing, and a daily per diem The 30-day notice rule now baked into Colorado law for federally backed properties How the domestic violence bill plays out when both parties in a lease file simultaneously The fee disclosure law in effect since January 2026 — and why Zillow compliance is still inconsistent New security deposit rules: 10-year useful life on carpet, itemized receipts required, and walkthrough rights The direction of Colorado landlord laws in 2026 is clear — and the investors who stay informed are the ones who stay protected. Watch the Youtube Video https://youtu.be/jpAKFjgDDc8 Timestamps 00:00 — Welcome & Overview01:43 — Brandon Scholten Introduction — 1,100 doors managed, investing since 201203:26 — 2026 Legislative Session — Record number of housing bills; most never signed06:26 — HB 26-1106 — Most problematic bill of the session; eviction cap with vague delay provisions; killed after massive public opposition12:05 — HB 26-1045 — Disabilities housing protections; Colorado codifying emotional support animal rules as HUD guidance shifts16:08 — HB 26-1013 — Utility billing fix signed into law; landlords can now allocate shared utilities without sub-metering20:20 — HP 26-1047 — Would have required full lease attached to every demand notice; lobbying effort killed it22:16 — HB 26-1036 — Vacant property tax; empowering local governments; died over implementation problems27:29 — SB 24-094 — Warranty of habitability expanded; 72-hour containment, alternate housing required; Laden Street mold case study34:26 — HB 25-1240 — Housing subsidy protections; 30-day notice now required statewide for federally backed properties36:35 — HB 25-1168 — Domestic violence bill; self-attestation now accepted; case study with both spouses filing simultaneously40:20 — HP 25-1090 — Mandatory fee disclosure in effect January 2026; Zillow compliance still inconsistent47:39 — HB 25-1249 — Security deposit rules; 10-year useful life on carpet; itemized receipts required51:56 — How to Get Involved — Colorado Housing Coalition; ~$25/month for small landlords Bills Referenced in This Episode HB 26-1106 — Eviction protections for tenants (did not pass) HB 26-1047 — Protections for residential tenants (did not pass) HB 26-1036 — Local taxes on vacant residential property (did not pass) SB 24-094 — Warranty of habitability HB 25-1240 — Protections for tenants with housing subsidies HB 25-1168 — Domestic violence tenant protections HP 25-1090 — Fee disclosure / deceptive pricing practices HB 25-1249 — Security deposit rules Links in Podcast Brandon Scholten: [email protected] Website: https://keyrenterdenver.com/ The Denver Landlord’s Digest— Brandon’s monthly newsletter covering legislation updates and day-to-day landlord resources Colorado General Assembly Bill Tracker — Search all active housing bills by session Colorado Housing Coalition — Landlord advocacy organization focused on small and independent rental property owners. Membership starts at ~$25/month Keyrenter Denver — Full-service property management for the Denver metro area. Monthly management at 7.5–9% depending on portfolio size; half a month’s rent for tenant placement Webinar Replays Colorado Habitability Law UpdatesColorado Rental Law Changes Affecting Your Properties (2025)New Colorado Rental Laws: What Changed On Jan 1st, 2026 and What You Need to Do Now.Security Deposit Disputes in Colorado Who is Keyrenter? Keyrenter Property Management Denver provides rental solutions for homeowners and real estate investors in the metro area who are interested in transforming their properties into passive income. It offers various services, from property marketing and thorough applicant screening to tenant placement and 24/7 maintenance services. Keyrenter Denver’s team of experts can take the clients’ burden of managing their rental off their hands so they can get back to what matters to them.