DENVER — Denver7 Investigates receives many complaints about landlords taking rent money but not taking care of basic services. Now, lawmakers want to strengthen tenant protections.
At the Felix Apartments in southeast Denver, Zanib Adib washes her dishes in cold water.
“I really need hot water to wash my dishes,” said Adib.
Adib said she has waited months for her property manager to do something to address the issue.
“I had to go to take showers somewhere else because I didn’t have hot water. And all I get is like, ‘Sorry!’ What am I going to do with ‘sorry?'” she said.
Eida Altman with the Denver Metro Tenants Union said the conditions at The Felix are the worst he has seen in 10 years of working in the industry, with residents reporting piles of trash, no heat and security concerns.
“And supposedly they’re actively working on it. But the problem isn’t solved yet. And then the tenants have no recourse,” said Altman.
Colorado does have a Warranty of Habitability law that is supposed to guarantee tenants have fundamental rights to healthy, safe living conditions, including water and heat. But consumer advocates such as CED Law’s Rebecca Cohn say Colorado’s law has a major loophole.