C.R.S. Section 38-12-509
Prohibition on retaliation

(1)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

A landlord shall not retaliate against a tenant by engaging in any of the activities specified in subsection (1)(b) of this section in response to the tenant:

(I)

Having made a good faith complaint to the landlord or to a governmental agency alleging a condition described by section 38-12-505 (1) or any condition that materially interferes with the life, health, or safety of the tenant; or

(II)

Organizing or becoming a member of a tenants’ association or similar organization.

(b)

Prohibited retaliation includes:

(I)

Increasing rent or decreasing services;

(II)

Terminating a lease or contract without written consent of the tenant except as otherwise provided by law;

(III)

Bringing or threatening to bring an action for possession; or

(IV)

Taking action that in any manner intimidates, threatens, discriminates against, or retaliates against a tenant.

(1.5)

A tenant may assert as a defense to a landlord’s action for possession, including an action for possession based on a nonmonetary violation of the rental agreement or an action for possession based upon a notice to quit or vacate, that the landlord retaliated against the tenant in violation of subsection (1) of this section.

(2)

If a landlord retaliates against a tenant in violation of subsection (1) of this section, the tenant may terminate the rental agreement and recover an amount not more than three months’ periodic rent or three times the tenant’s actual damages, whichever is greater, plus reasonable attorney fees and costs.

(3)

If a landlord elects to replace a malfunctioning appliance, but does so with a new appliance that is not identical to the appliance being replaced, there is a rebuttable presumption in favor of the landlord that the landlord’s selection of a different appliance was not retaliatory so long as the replacement appliance provides substantially the same features as the original appliance.
(4)(Deleted by amendment, L. 2019.)

Source: Section 38-12-509 — Prohibition on retaliation, https://leg.­colorado.­gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-38.­pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).

38‑12‑101
Legislative declaration 38‑12‑102
Definitions 38‑12‑102.5
Security deposits - maximum amount 38‑12‑103
Return of security deposit 38‑12‑104
Return of security deposit - hazardous condition - gas appliance 38‑12‑105
Late fees charged to tenants and mobile home owners - maximum late fee amounts - prohibited acts - penalties - period to cure violations - remedies - unfair or deceptive trade practice 38‑12‑106
Security deposits - limitation on pet security deposit and rent - definition 38‑12‑200.1
Short title 38‑12‑200.2
Legislative declaration 38‑12‑201
Application of part 2 38‑12‑201.3
Legislative declaration - increased availability of mobile home parks 38‑12‑201.5
Definitions 38‑12‑202
Tenancy - notice to quit 38‑12‑202.5
Action for termination 38‑12‑203
Reasons for termination 38‑12‑203.5
Change in use of the park - remedies for home owners - definitions 38‑12‑204
Nonpayment of rent - notice required for rent increase - limitation on rent increases 38‑12‑204.3
Notice required for termination 38‑12‑205
Termination prohibited 38‑12‑206
Home owner meetings - assembly in common areas - meeting hosted by landlord 38‑12‑207
Security deposits - legal process 38‑12‑208
Remedies 38‑12‑209
Entry fees prohibited 38‑12‑210
Closed parks prohibited 38‑12‑211
Selling and transfer fees prohibited - “for sale” signs permitted 38‑12‑212
Certain types of landlord-seller agreements prohibited 38‑12‑212.3
Responsibilities of landlord - acts prohibited 38‑12‑212.4
Required disclosure and notice of water usage and billing - responsibility for leaks 38‑12‑212.5
Prohibition on retaliation and harassment - definition 38‑12‑212.7
Landlord utilities account 38‑12‑213
Rental agreement - disclosure of terms in writing - prohibited provisions 38‑12‑214
Rules and regulations - amendments - notice - complaints 38‑12‑215
New developments and parks - rental of sites to dealers authorized 38‑12‑216
Mediation, when permitted - court actions 38‑12‑217
Notice of change of use - notice of sale or closure of park - opportunity for home owners to purchase - procedures - exemptions - enforcement - private right of action - definition 38‑12‑218
Mobile home owners - right to form a cooperative 38‑12‑219
Home owners’ and landlords’ rights 38‑12‑220
Private civil right of action 38‑12‑221
Access by counties and municipalities 38‑12‑222
Residents’ right to privacy 38‑12‑223
Tenancy and park sale records 38‑12‑301
Control of rents by counties and municipalities prohibited - legislative declaration 38‑12‑302
Definitions 38‑12‑401
Definitions 38‑12‑402
Protection for victims of unlawful sexual behavior, stalking, or domestic violence 38‑12‑501
Legislative declaration - matter of statewide concern - purposes and policies 38‑12‑502
Definitions 38‑12‑503
Warranty of habitability - notice - landlord obligations 38‑12‑504
Tenant’s maintenance of premises 38‑12‑505
Uninhabitable residential premises - habitability procedures - rules 38‑12‑506
Exception for certain single-family residences 38‑12‑507
Breach of warranty of habitability - tenant’s remedies 38‑12‑508
Landlord’s defenses to a claim of breach of warranty - limitations on claiming a breach 38‑12‑509
Prohibition on retaliation 38‑12‑510
Unlawful removal or exclusion 38‑12‑511
Application 38‑12‑601
Unreasonable restrictions on electric vehicle charging systems and electric vehicle parking - definitions 38‑12‑701
Notice of rent increase 38‑12‑702
Limit on frequency of residential rent increases 38‑12‑801
Written rental agreement - prohibited clauses - copy - tenant - applicability - definitions 38‑12‑802
Tenant payment - receipts 38‑12‑803
Disclosure - elevated radon - definition 38‑12‑901
Short title 38‑12‑902
Definitions 38‑12‑903
Rental application fee - limitations 38‑12‑904
Consideration of rental applications - limitations - portable tenant screening report - notice to prospective tenants - denial notice 38‑12‑905
Violations - liability - notice required - exceptions - no exhaustion of remedies required 38‑12‑1001
Definitions 38‑12‑1002
Bed bugs - notification to landlord - landlord duties 38‑12‑1003
Bed bugs - inspections - treatments - costs 38‑12‑1004
Bed bugs - access to dwelling unit and personal belongings - notice - costs 38‑12‑1005
Bed bugs - renting of dwelling units with bed bugs prohibited 38‑12‑1006
Remedies - liability 38‑12‑1007
Relationship to warranty of habitability 38‑12‑1101
Short title 38‑12‑1102
Legislative declaration 38‑12‑1103
Definitions 38‑12‑1104
Dispute resolution program - creation - division of housing - duties - report - rules 38‑12‑1105
Dispute resolution program - complaint process 38‑12‑1106
Registration of mobile home parks - process - fees 38‑12‑1107
Registration information database 38‑12‑1108
Mobile home park complaint and water issue database 38‑12‑1109
Mobile home park act dispute resolution and enforcement program annual report 38‑12‑1110
Mobile home park act dispute resolution and enforcement program fund 38‑12‑1201
Short title 38‑12‑1202
Definitions 38‑12‑1203
Prohibition on activities related to a tenant’s immigration or citizenship status 38‑12‑1204
Authorized conduct 38‑12‑1205
Remedies
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Current through Fall 2024

§ 38-12-509’s source at colorado​.gov