When the Landlord Will Not Fix It
C.R.S. 38-12-503 — fit for habitation, and work begun within twenty-four hours or seventy-two after notice
Every Colorado rental agreement carries the landlord's warranty that the premises are fit for human habitation when the tenant moves in, and that the landlord will keep them that way for the whole tenancy.
Who handles this in Colorado: Colorado Legal Services, Get Help and Colorado Legal Services; and legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Colorado directory.
| The condition | Remedial action begins within, after notice |
|---|---|
| The conditionMaterially interferes with the tenant's life, health or safety | Remedial action begins within, after noticeTwenty-four hours |
| The conditionMakes the premises uninhabitable | Remedial action begins within, after noticeSeventy-two hours |
Notice is any writing that lets the landlord substantially know of the condition: a notice from a government agency or a third party, or from the tenant sent the way the landlord usually communicates. A lease that lets a tenant report a condition out loud waives the landlord's right to written notice.
A landlord is presumed to have failed to repair within a reasonable time if the condition is not fixed within seven calendar days of notice for a threat to life, health or safety, or fourteen calendar days for an uninhabitable condition.
Sources for this section (1)
- C.R.S. 38-12-503 — Warranty of habitability - notice - landlord obligations
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Colorado attorney.