Landlord and Tenant Lawyers in Grand Junction

Find the right Tenant attorney in Grand Junction, CO

Tenant Law in Colorado

The relationship between a landlord and tenant in Grand Junction, Colorado can sometimes be a touchy one. Landlords and tenants are not always clear on their respective rights and responsibilities.

There are many rights and responsibilities that landlords and tenants have. It's important that each party is aware of their rights, and the rights of the other party. By knowing and respecting these rights, the risk of conflict should be reduced dramatically.

Landlord's Rights in Grand Junction, CO

Most obviously, landlords have a right to collect rent from their tenants. When a tenant agrees to pay a landlord a certain amount of money for the right to occupy the landlord's property, a contract is formed. Tenants have to hold up their end of the deal.

Also, landlords have a right to be compensated for damage a tenant causes to a rented unit, either intentionally or negligently. Landlords have a right to deduct repair costs from tenants' security deposits, unless the damage was caused by normal wear and tear, for which tenants are not liable.

Tenant's Rights in Grand Junction, CO

The most basic right of a tenant is the right to a living space that's fit for human habitation. This is, after all, what they're paying the landlord to provide. Landlords in Grand Junction, Colorado are under a legal duty to make sure that their apartments are habitable. There are many factors that are considered in determining if an unit is habitable or not, but, generally, an unit will not be deemed habitable if it lacks any of the following: running water, electricity, heat, and protection from the elements (such as proper insulation, and windows that close).

Additionally, tenants have rights to common areas that are free of physical obstructions, as well as serious health and safety hazards. Common areas are the places in apartment buildings and other residential complexes which every tenant can access, and include hallways, stairwells, and fire escapes. In Grand Junction, Colorado, these areas must be kept in a safe condition, at the landlord's expense.

Tenants also have rights, under federal and Colorado law, to not be victims of racial, ethnic, or gender discrimination in housing, whether they are renting or buying. Furthermore, landlords are not allowed to discriminate against tenants based on physical disabilities. They must also allow physically-disabled tenants to make reasonable modifications to the apartment to make it more accessible. However, the landlord can require tenants to remove those modifications and restore the property to its original condition once the tenant moves out.

Finally, tenants are legally protected from arbitrary eviction. Landlords generally must have a very good reason to evict a tenant before the lease agreement reaches the end of its term (at this point, they are of course allowed to decline to renew the lease). Of course, if the tenant breaches the lease agreement (such as by failing to pay rent, damaging the property, or violating other reasonable rules the landlord has put in the lease), the landlord, like a party to any other contract, is free to terminate the agreement and evict the breaching tenant.

Can a Grand Junction, Colorado Landlord/Tenant Lawyer Help?

Landlords and tenants usually prefer to avoid getting into fights with one another, for evident reasons. A harmonious relationship is profitable for everyone involved. To that end, the advice of a good Grand Junction, Colorado landlord/tenant attorney can help defuse arguments before they become too serious.

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Life in Grand Junction

Grand Junction, Colorado is a home-rule municipality, and the county seat of Mesa County, Colorado. According to a Census estimate from 2009, Grand Junction has a population of about 59,000 people. The city is located on the Colorado river, near where it receives the Gunnison River, hence the name "Grand Junction." Modernly, the city serves as an extremely important hub for commerce and transportation in its region. Grand Junction also grew rapidly in the 1970s and 80s, thanks to large deposits of oil shale. This was when technologies used to extract oil from shale became widely available. However, extracting oil from shale is still more expensive than simply drilling for it, and when oil prices began to decline, it ceased to be economically viable. This led to significant economic hardship for the region. In recent years, however, the economy of Grand Junction, Colorado has diversified and stabilized, eliminating the risks that arise when an economy becomes dependent on a single industry. It is a vibrant center for many industries, including healthcare, agriculture, livestock, and tourism. Grand Junction is near a major mountain resort, and it has become a popular destination for wealthy travelers. If you live in Grand Junction, and are facing any legal issue, whether it involves starting a business, adopting a child, taking out a mortgage, or writing a will, the chances that you'll be able to find a good Grand Junction, Colorado lawyer are excellent.

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