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Do you know your rights as a renter or landlord?

Posted at 10:16 PM, Apr 15, 2019
and last updated 2019-04-16 15:21:17-04

COLORADO SPRINGS –  The City of Colorado Springs wants to make sure all renters and landlords know what their rights and responsibilities are.

With thousands of evictions happening each year, there’s clearly a lack of education.

On Monday, a Renters’ Rights 101 Workshop was held at Library 21c. The workshop was started last year and after the popular response it got it’s continuing this year. Event organizers say they saw the need for more housing education in Colorado Springs where almost half of the population rents.

Jdemetria Powell said, “I’m here because they don’t have regulations on the rent and in this town we do need regulations on rent.”

Other people at the meeting shared that they came to find out what their rights are when they have a landlord who doesn’t fix things at their apartment.

“We certainly hear a lot of stories about slumlords so to speak or nightmare tenants,” said Catherine Duarte, senior analyst with the Community Development Division of the City of Colorado Springs.

“We know that nearly half of the city rents, about 40 percent of all Colorado Springs residents rent.”

Duarte said the eviction rate in our area is rather high.

Powell said, “I was evicted unlawfully…because I paid with a cashier’s check.”

Duarte said, “7,000 eviction cases were filed in El Paso County court last year.”

The gap in communication between renters and landlords – it can lead to a lot of housing instability.

Duarte said, “With rents at the levels that we’ve seen them recently it is a really good idea for renters and landlords to know what the rights and responsibilities are to keep people stably housed.”

That includes knowing the basics of a lease, how to communicate with your tenant or landlord, and what do in the case of an eviction.

In regards to renters, there’s a bill being considered that would expand protections for renters as well as defining what makes a rental property uninhabitable. CLICK HERE for more information.

If you weren’t able to attend Monday’s workshop there’s two more happening this year:

Wednesday, August 7

Penrose Library

20 N. Cascade Ave.

6 – 7:30pm

 

Saturday, October 12

Sand Creek Library

1821 S. Academy Blvd

2 – 3:30pm