Colorado Domestic Violence Lease Termination

Summary

Colorado law provides a crucial escape hatch for victims of domestic violence, allowing them to break a residential lease early without severe financial penalties to escape their abuser.

Rights & Rules

01.
If you are a victim of domestic violence, domestic abuse, unlawful sexual behavior, or stalking, you have the legal right to break your lease early.
02.
You must provide the landlord with written notice and a police report, or a medical/court record documenting the abuse.
03.
Once you provide the notice, you only owe one more month's rent (paid within 90 days of leaving), rather than being on the hook for the rest of the year.
04.
Your landlord CANNOT evict you simply because you were the victim of a domestic violence incident at the property.

Penalties

01.
If a landlord ignores this law and tries to sue you for the remainder of the lease, or tries to withhold your security deposit improperly, you can countersue them in court.

Verified Citations

Colorado Revised Statutes Section 38-12-402

Source

"A tenant may terminate a residential rental agreement... if the tenant provides the landlord with written notice... stating that the tenant is the victim of domestic violence, domestic abuse, unlawful sexual behavior, or stalking..."