Free legal advice for Denver renters with low taxes | Think | Media Pyro

When it comes to real estate in downtown Denver, the wealthy tend to be lucky. If you are struggling financially, the affordable housing crisis may affect you or your family.

This is especially true for families renting in the Mile High City.

This November, you can advocate for yourself and others by voting YES on Education Act 305 called No Eviction Without Representation. This Denver ballot measure would give all tenants free legal support to navigate the eviction process. It’s a simple and effective way to give renters a fighting chance at housing, and a way to reduce homelessness in the city.

However, a large war chest is being assembled against the project, funded by a housing association led by a lawyer who comes from the state’s largest private and expropriation firm.

As a small landlord who has worked in affordable housing for 11 years, I know the world of evictions, retirements and foreclosures – and I fully support Education Act 305. The Housing Association of Metro Denver does not speak about me or my beliefs.

On average, property owners are represented by lawyers in 90% of cases but tenants are represented about 1% of the time. Besides, I am not what you would call an “average” citizen; I am not a group of investors with no ties to the Denver area. So, as it stands, most tenants face mega-corporations with huge assets that enter court without any help or support to fight them.

In my time working in affordable housing, I have seen examples of what I call the perfect landlord-tenant relationship. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) works with the understanding that we are serving populations that are more vulnerable and may not be competitive in the general housing market but deserve opportunities for privacy and dignity. We should choose the best option for tenants.

When I serve an eviction notice to a resident, it becomes clear to me that the current system is flawed and unfair. Colorado has its own eviction forms and I use them to be completely compliant with our laws. However, I also use a federal form that is required by HUD anywhere in the country because it contains language that is easy to understand. Colorado isn’t the worst, but it’s not written in a way that’s easy for renters to understand. Compared to the state, Colorado’s is confusing and scary to people who are already in deep trouble.

It is not surprising that people need support to support themselves in the eviction process and their rights are so clear.

As a landlord, I prefer when my tenants have a lawyer to represent them. The outcome isn’t that different for everyone involved, but the whole process is a lot less stressful. I’ve been through this many times, and I’d rather find a solution that works for all parties. When effective solutions are found, I avoid opportunities and repair costs.

All of these are good results for me. So why is the Housing Association of Metro Denver crying out that renters and legal counsel will fail landlords like me? Their needs are not limited to sole proprietors or “mom and pop” businesses, but to mega corporations whose key employees have not yet reached their facilities.

Evictions are indicative of other issues and should not be handled unfairly for those in need. Supporting residents by providing free legal support can improve people’s performance; they are not the boogeyman phenomena that experts predict.

Opponents of 305 proposed an annual tax of $75, which equates to $6.25 per month, would be levied on the property owner. Will this hurt me and my business? Absolutely not. Landlords often pay $200 in application fees when background checks are $30, raising questions that the cost of doing business is not commensurate with what tenants are paid. That’s why, as an affordable housing landlord, I support Education Act 305. It will make eviction outcomes smoother for ALL parties and help families who need it most avoid unnecessary evictions and stay. no house.

Kevin McCloskey is a Denver area landlord who has been working in affordable housing for 11 years.