LEGAL HANDBOOK
New Requirements in
Bed Bug Legislation
L
ast year the Colorado legislature enacted a new statute
dealing with landlord and tenant obligations regarding
bedbugs (C.R.S. 38-12-1001). The legislation had a delayed
effective date of January 1, 2020. Consequently, now is good time to
revisit the requirements of the new law. The issues can be broken
down into disclosure requirements and response requirements.
DREW HAMRICK
COLORADO APARTMENT ASSOCIATION
Disclosure Requirements
A landlord may not lease a property reasonably suspected to
have bedbugs. There is not a statutory obligation to investigate the
presence of bedbugs, absent knowledge or a reasonable basis
for suspicion.
If requested by the tenant, a landlord must disclose bedbugs
found in the last 8 months and the last date inspection wherein
the property was found a free of bedbugs. There is not a statutory
obligation for unrequested disclosure or disclosure of infestations
more than 8 months old.
www.aamdhq.org
JANUARY 2020
TRENDS | 47