Priority Bills the Coalition is Addressing - March 25 2025
This podcast discusses the challenges faced by landlords and tenants in Colorado due to recent legislative changes affecting the rental market. The Workforce Housing Coalition aims to address these issues by advocating for the interests of small property owners and ensuring that housing remains affordable and accessible.
The conversation highlights specific bills that threaten the sustainability of workforce housing and emphasizes the need for collaboration between landlords, tenants, and the government to find effective solutions.
Legislation Discussed:
HB25-1240
HB25-1235
HB25-1168
Key Takeaways
The recent legislation has negatively impacted landlords and residents in Colorado.
Legislation can create unintended consequences for both landlords and tenants.
The need for a collaborative approach to housing issues is essential.
Specific bills threaten the sustainability of affordable housing.
Landlords face increasing challenges due to ambiguous legal language.
The importance of raising awareness about housing legislation is paramount.
Aligning interests between landlords and the government is crucial for housing stability.
Panelists:
Alison Shunneson
Victor Sulzer
Terrance Doyle
Priority Bills the Coalition is Addressing - March 27 2025
Important Legislative Update from the Workforce Housing Coalition
As the Colorado Legislature enters the final 40 days of its 120-day session, several housing-related bills that impact the multi-family sector have been introduced. Our focus has been on those pieces of legislation that pose potential risks to landlord rights and operational flexibility.
Four Key Bills to Watch:
HB25-1090 - Impacts fee structures for utilities and maintenance
HB25-1235 - Changes eviction service requirements and court procedures
HB25-1249 - Modifies security deposit regulations
SB25-020 - Expands government enforcement authority
Coalition Win: Our coalition has already secured important amendments to the Rent Algorithm bill (HB25-1004) to protect the use of market studies when setting rents.
What You Can Do:
Review our legislative memo for details [DOWNLOAD]
Share this information with your network
Visit https://www.whccolorado.com/ to learn how you can help
Your engagement matters - these bills will affect both property owners and residents across Colorado.
Priority Bills the Coalition is Addressing - March 12 2025
House Bill 1235: Jury Trial for Tenant Proceedings
Changes eviction process to require three personal service attempts on different days
Allows tenants to request jury trials for possession disputes
Creates delays in the eviction process
Would keep units off the market longer when courts are already facing backlogs
Has potential unintended consequences for housing availability
Senate Bill 20: Landlord and Tenant Law Enforcement
Grants extended powers to the Attorney General, counties, and cities
Allows them to initiate criminal and civil actions against landlords
Establishes a receivership mechanism where governments can take property if issues aren't remediated quickly
Currently targets multifamily properties but could expand to all rental properties
Described as potentially deterring investment in Colorado housing
House Bill 1249: Security Deposits
Reduces security deposit cap from two months' rent to one month's rent
Restricts what landlords can keep from deposits (can't keep for paint/carpet unless "severe damage")
Requires walkthrough with tenant to keep any security deposit
Follows a pattern of expanding restrictions from previous legislation
Could lead to higher rents as landlords seek to mitigate increased risk
House Bill 1004: No Pricing Coordination Between Landlords
Originally targeted algorithmic pricing tools
Coalition secured an amendment allowing the use of public market studies and indexes for rent-setting
Demonstrates how organized advocacy can transform problematic legislation into workable policy