2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 38 - PROPERTY - REAL AND PERSONAL (§§ 38-1-101 — 38-53-110) › TENANTS AND LANDLORDS (§§ 38-12-101 — 38-12-1409) › Article 12 - TENANTS AND LANDLORDS (§§ 38-12-101 — 38-12-1409) › Part 13 - FOR CAUSE EVICTION POLICY (§§ 38-12-1301 — 38-12-1307) › Section 38-12-1303 - Cause for eviction required - no-fault evictions

(1)
A landlord shall not serve a notice to terminate tenancy or a demand for possession or otherwise proceed with an action for unlawful detainer pursuant to article 40 of title 13 unless there is cause for the eviction.
(2)
For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section, cause exists only as described in the following sections:
(a)
Section 13-40-104 (1)(a) for when entry is made without right or title into any vacant or unoccupied lands or tenements;
(b)
Section 13-40-104 (1)(b) for when entry is made wrongfully into certain public lands, tenements, mining claims, or other possessions;
(c)
Section 13-40-104 (1)(c) for when a lessee or tenant at will, or at sufferance, of any nonresidential real property or residential premises described in section 38-12-1302 (1)(a), (1)(b), (1)(d), (1)(e), or (1)(f) holds over and continues in possession of the property or premises, or any portion of the property or premises, after the expiration of the term for which the property or premises was leased or after the tenancy, at will or at sufferance, has been terminated by either party;
(d)
Section 13-40-104 (1)(d) for nonpayment of rent;
(e)
Section 13-40-104 (1)(d.5) for a substantial violation, as described in section 13-40-107.5;
(f)
Section 13-40-104 (1)(e) for a material violation of the lease or rental agreement;
(g)
Section 13-40-104 (1)(e.5) for a repeat violation after receipt of proper notice of a violation;
(h)
Section 13-40-104 (1)(e.8) and subsection (3) of this section concerning no-fault evictions;
(i)
Section 13-40-104 (1)(f) for possession after a legal sale;
(j)
Section 13-40-104 (1)(g) for when property has been sold under a judgment or decree and the party or privies to the judgment or decree refuse or neglect to surrender possession after the expiration of the time of redemption, when redemption is allowed by law, after the purchaser demands the property;
(k)
Section 13-40-104 (1)(h) for when an heir or devisee continues in possession of a premises sold and conveyed by a personal representative;
(l)
Section 13-40-104 (1)(i) for a vendee that holds over after failing to comply with an agreement to purchase lands or tenements; and
(m)
Section 13-40-104 (1)(j) for when a tenant has engaged in conduct that creates a nuisance or disturbance that interferes with the quiet enjoyment of the landlord or other tenants at the property or where the tenant is negligently damaging the property.
(3)
In addition to the requirements of subsection (5) of this section, the following conditions constitute grounds for a no-fault eviction of a tenant:
(a)
Demolition or conversion of residential premises.
When a landlord plans to demolish a residential premises, convert it to a nonresidential use, or convert it to a short-term rental property, the landlord may initiate a no-fault eviction of a tenant of the residential premises at the end of the term of the rental agreement so long as the landlord:
(I)
Allows the tenant at least ninety days after receiving the written notice described in subsection (3)(a)(II) of this section to vacate the residential premises, during which time the tenant may remain in possession of the residential premises under the same terms of the Tenant's existing rental agreement; and
(II)
Provides the tenant proper service of a written notice of the No-fault eviction, which written notice includes:
(A)
The date by which the tenant must vacate the residential premises, which date must be at least ninety days after the date upon which the landlord provides the written notice to the tenant; and
(B)
A description and timeline of the demolition or conversion of the residential premises and a material demonstration of the proposed date upon which the project will commence, such as a copy of a building permit or application for a permit or license to operate a short-term rental property, where applicable.
(b)
Substantial repairs or renovations.
(I)
Except as described in subsection (3)(b)(II) of this section, when a landlord plans to make substantial repairs or renovations to a residential premises, the landlord may initiate a no-fault eviction of a tenant of the residential premises at the end of the term of the rental agreement so long as the landlord:
(A)
Allows the tenant at least ninety days after receiving the written notice described in subsection (3)(b)(I)(B) of this section to vacate the residential premises, during which time the tenant may remain in possession of the residential premises under the same terms of the tenant's existing rental agreement;
(B)
Provides the tenant proper service of a written notice of the No-fault eviction, which written notice includes the date by which the tenant must vacate the residential premises, which date must be at least ninety days after the date upon which the landlord provides the written notice to the tenant;
(C)
Provides the tenant an expected completion date and a general description of the substantial repairs or renovations to the residential premises;
(D)
Proceeds without unreasonable delay to effect the substantial repairs or renovations upon the landlord's recovery of possession of the Residential premises; and
(E)
For any repairs or renovations expected to last less than one hundred eighty days, provides the tenant a written notice sent in a manner that the landlord typically uses to communicate with the tenant, which notice includes the expected completion date for the repairs or renovations. If, within ten days after receiving the notice, the tenant notifies the landlord that the tenant wants to return to the residential premises, the landlord shall offer the tenant the first right of refusal to sign a new rental agreement with reasonable terms. If the tenant accepts the new rental agreement, the tenant has thirty days to occupy the residential premises unless the parties mutually agree on an extended timeline in writing.
(II)
A landlord shall not initiate a no-fault eviction of a tenant as described in subsection (3)(b)(I) of this section if the substantial repairs or renovations that are the alleged basis of the no-fault eviction are:
(A)
Required in order for the landlord to satisfy all required remedial action described in section 38-12-503 concerning a breach of the warranty of habitability; or
(B)
Initiated by the landlord in retaliation against the tenant, as described in section 38-12-509 (1).
(c)
Landlord or family member of landlord assumes occupancy.
(I)
When a landlord plans to recover possession of a residential premises for the landlord's own use and occupancy as a residence, or for the use and occupancy as a residence by the landlord's family member, the landlord may initiate a no-fault eviction of a tenant of the residential premises at the end of the term of the rental agreement so long as:
(A)
Except as described in subsection (3)(c)(III) of this section, the landlord or the landlord's family member moves into the residential premises within three months after the tenant vacates the residential premises;
(B)
Except as described in subsection (3)(c)(II) of this section, the landlord provides the tenant proper service of a written notice of the No-fault eviction at least ninety days before the date by which the tenant must vacate the residential premises, during which time the tenant may remain in possession of the residential premises under the same terms of the tenant's existing rental agreement;
(C)
No substantially equivalent unit is vacant and available to house the landlord or the landlord's family member in the same building; and
(D)
The landlord does not list the residential premises for a long-term or short-term rental for at least ninety days after the date the tenant is required to vacate.
(II)
If the landlord is an individual on active military duty for the United States military forces or a spouse of such an individual, the landlord must provide the tenant proper service of a written notice of the no-fault eviction at least forty-five days before the date by which the tenant must vacate the residential premises, during which time the tenant may remain in possession of the residential premises under the same terms of the tenant's existing rental agreement.
(III)
If the landlord or the landlord's family member is a person with a disability, the landlord may extend for a reasonable time the period of time described subsection (3)(c)(I)(A) of this section to allow for changes to be made to the residential premises to accommodate the family member with the disability.
(d)
Withdrawal from rental market for the purpose of selling the residential premises.
(I)
When a landlord plans to sell a residential premises that is a single-family home, a townhome, A duplex, A triplex, or an individual condominium unit, the landlord may initiate a no-fault eviction of a tenant of the residential premises at the end of the term of the rental agreement so long as the landlord:
(A)
Allows the tenant at least ninety days after receiving the written notice described in subsection (3)(d)(I)(B) of this section to vacate the Residential premises, during which time the tenant may remain in possession of the residential premises under the same terms of the Tenant's existing rental agreement;
(B)
Provides the tenant proper service of a written notice of the landlord's intent to withdraw the residential premises from the rental market and sell the residential premises, which notice includes the date on which the tenant will be required to vacate; and
(C)
Does not list the residential premises for a long-term or short-term rental for at least ninety days after the date on which the tenant is required to vacate; except that this subsection (3)(d)(I)(C) does not apply if the landlord produces evidence that the residential premises was listed for sale on a multiple-listing service after the tenant was required to vacate.
(II)
Nothing in this subsection (3)(d) may be construed to allow a landlord to initiate a no-fault eviction or otherwise terminate a rental agreement without cause before the end of the term of the rental agreement.
(e)
Tenant refuses to sign new lease with reasonable terms.
If a tenant refuses to sign a new rental agreement with reasonable terms, the landlord may initiate a no-fault eviction of the tenant so long as the landlord:
(I)
Allows the tenant at least ninety days after receiving the notice described in subsection (3)(e)(II) of this section to vacate the residential premises after the tenant has refused to sign the new rental agreement, during which time the tenant may remain in possession of the residential premises under the same terms as the tenant's existing rental agreement; and
(II)
Provides the tenant proper service of a written notice of the Landlord's intent to terminate the tenancy, which notice includes the date on which the tenant will be required to vacate.
(f)
History of nonpayment of rent.
(I)
If a tenant submits a rent payment late more than two times during the period of the rental agreement, the landlord may initiate a no-fault eviction of the tenant at the end of the term of the rental agreement so long as the landlord:
(A)
Allows the tenant at least ninety days after receiving the notice described in subsection (3)(f)(I)(B) of this section to vacate the Residential premises, during which time the tenant may remain in possession of the residential premises under the same terms as the Tenant's existing rental agreement; and
(B)
Provides the tenant proper service of a written notice of the Landlord's intent to terminate the tenancy, which notice includes the date on which the tenant will be required to vacate.
(II)
For purposes of this subsection (3)(f), a rent payment qualifies as late if it is submitted more than ten calendar days after the day it is due according to the rental agreement and the landlord provides the tenant with proper service of a written notice under section 13-40-104 (1)(d).
(III)
This subsection (3)(f) does not apply if the rent payment is submitted within the cure period described in section 13-40-104 (1)(d).
(4)
Nothing in this section shall be construed to impact the interpretation of the meaning of the term "good cause" as the term is used in federal law or federal regulations.
(5)
(a)
A landlord may proceed with a no-fault eviction of a tenant by filing an action under article 40 of title 13 only if the landlord provides proper service of a written notice of the no-fault eviction and the tenant fails to vacate on or before the deadline stated in the notice.
(b)
A written notice provided pursuant to subsection (3) of this section must include a statement of the legal and factual basis for the landlord's no-fault eviction of the tenant, which legal basis must be set forth in subsection (3) of this section.
Added by 2024 Ch. 113,§ 2, eff. 4/19/2024.