SIGNED! Fields & Exum’s Bill to Reduce Costs for Renters

HB23-1099 will implement portable screening reports, lowering application costs for prospective tenants

DENVER, CO – Today, Senators Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, and Tony Exum’s, D-Colorado Springs, bill to require landlords to accept recent screening reports from applicants without charging an application fee was signed into law.

If a prospective tenant doesn’t provide a screening report, landlords may charge an application fee, but HB23-1099 requires that they provide applicants with a free copy that they can present to any other prospective landlord within 30 days of the report publication.

“Too many Coloradans searching for a rental have found themselves spending hundreds of dollars in unnecessary fees for something they’ve previously paid for,” said Fields. “Applying to rent a home shouldn’t require redundant, substantial fees and a negative impact on one’s credit. We have to continue to fight rising housing expenses across the board, including application costs, so that every Colorado family can find a place to call home without breaking the bank.”

“Our state is in a housing crisis, which is why we’ve been fighting to reduce the many barriers to housing that exist in our state,” said Exum. “Paying for a new screening report every time someone applies for a lease is a big financial burden, especially if it’s their fourth, fifth, or sixth application. This new law allows for greater transparency between landlords and prospective tenants while reducing the cost of finding a new place to live.”

Additionally, HB23-1099 allows prospective tenants whose application was denied based on their screening report to dispute the accuracy of the report, and the bill exempts landlords who refund an application fee within 20 days of rejecting a prospective tenant.