Denver landlords with no credit checks: what tenants should know

Last updated 2026-07-26

Why do some private landlords in Denver skip credit checks?

No Colorado or Denver law requires a landlord to run a credit check before renting a unit. Screening is a landlord's choice, not a legal mandate. Small, self-managed landlords (the one-to-ten-unit owners who make up a huge share of Denver's rental stock) skip credit checks for a mix of practical reasons. Some want to fill a vacancy fast and don't want to wait on a report. Some have had good luck with word-of-mouth tenants, referrals from a current tenant, or people they already know. Others are trying to reach renters who got denied everywhere else because of medical debt, a divorce, or old collections that don't reflect their actual ability to pay rent today. A thin or damaged credit file doesn't always mean a risky tenant, and plenty of experienced landlords will tell you rental history and income verification predict payment behavior better than a credit score alone. There's also a cost angle. Tenant screening services typically run $25 to $75 per applicant when the landlord pays, according to consumer reporting agency fee schedules referenced by the Federal Trade Commission's guidance on tenant background checks ^[1]. A landlord renting a single unit a few times a year might decide it's not worth the subscription or per-report fee, especially if they're comfortable judging character through a conversation and a reference call instead. None of this means the landlord is skipping other screening. Most still check income, ask for pay stubs, call a previous landlord, or run an eviction history search. Credit checks are just one tool among several, and some landlords use fewer tools than others.

Is it legal for a landlord to skip a credit check in Colorado?

Yes. Colorado's tenant screening statute regulates what a landlord must disclose and charge if they choose to run a screening report, not whether they have to run one. Colorado Revised Statutes § 38-12-903 requires a landlord who charges a tenant screening fee to provide a written disclosure of what the fee covers and what criteria the landlord uses, and requires the landlord to use the fee only for its actual screening cost or a third-party service charge ^[2]. If a landlord doesn't charge a fee at all, and doesn't run a credit check, none of that machinery kicks in. The one legal boundary that always applies, credit check or not, is fair housing law. The federal Fair Housing Act, enforced under 42 U.S.C. § 3604, and Colorado's Anti-Discrimination Act (C.R.S. § 24-34-502) bar landlords from applying different screening standards based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, disability, or several state-specific protected classes including source of income and marital status ^[3]. A landlord can decide not to run credit checks for everyone. What a landlord cannot do is skip the credit check for some applicants and require it for others based on a protected characteristic. So "no credit check" landlords are operating inside a legal gray zone in one sense only: they're taking on more of their own risk assessment, not breaking a licensing rule. Denver's rental licensing program (more on that below) doesn't touch screening criteria at all.

What should a tenant expect from a no-credit-check landlord in Denver?

Expect more weight put on other things: proof of income, a security deposit, first month's rent up front, and sometimes a co-signer or guarantor. A landlord who isn't pulling your credit score is usually trying to verify the same underlying question (can and will you pay rent) through different evidence. Common substitutes include pay stubs or bank statements showing three to six months of steady income, a call or letter from your current or previous landlord, and sometimes a higher deposit than a landlord using full screening might ask for. Colorado law caps how a security deposit gets handled once it's collected (the landlord has up to 60 days to return it after move-out unless the lease specifies a shorter period, under C.R.S. § 38-12-103) but does not cap the deposit amount itself ^[4]. Tenants should also expect these landlords to be smaller operations. A private landlord with one to ten units in Denver, especially one working without a property manager, is more likely to make decisions based on a phone conversation and gut instinct than a scoring algorithm. That cuts both ways: it can mean more flexibility for someone with bad credit but solid income, and it can also mean less consistency from one applicant to the next, since there's no formal matrix being applied. If you're a landlord weighing whether to formalize your screening process at all, a lot of that decision overlaps with whether you're registered and licensed correctly in Denver in the first place. That's a separate compliance track worth sorting out early; see our landlord basics guide for the broader picture of what running rentals legally in Denver actually requires.

How to become a landlord (what actually changes when you rent out property)

Becoming a landlord in Denver means more than buying a property and finding a tenant. Denver requires most residential rental properties to hold a rental license through its Department of Excise and Licenses, under the city's rental licensing ordinance covering long-term residential rentals ^[5]. That applies whether you have one unit or ten, and whether you self-manage or hire a property manager. The practical steps: confirm your property type falls under Denver's licensing requirement (single-family, condo, duplex, and multi-unit rentals are generally covered), pass or schedule the required inspection, and submit your application with the fee to Denver's licensing office. Fees and exact inspection checklists change over time, so confirm current numbers with Denver's rental licensing office rather than relying on a number from an old blog post. Beyond the license, becoming a landlord means taking on obligations under the Colorado Revised Statutes for landlord-tenant law: proper notice before entry, timely deposit returns, habitability standards under the Colorado warranty of habitability statute (C.R.S. § 38-12-503), and compliance with any local eviction protections Denver has layered on top of state law ^[6]. If this is your first rental, don't treat the license application as the finish line. It's the entry ticket. The bigger work is building a lease, a maintenance response process, and a record-keeping habit that holds up if a tenant disputes a charge or a city inspector shows up. That's the gap a lot of first-time landlords underestimate, and it's exactly what a $79 one-time City Rental License & Inspection Prep Packet is built to help you close: a structured way to walk through what Denver's inspection actually checks before the inspector does.

What is landlording, and what is a landlord, exactly?

Landlording is the day-to-day work of owning and operating rental property: screening tenants, signing leases, collecting rent, handling maintenance, managing move-in and move-out, and staying compliant with local and state law. It's a mix of property management and small-business operations, whether you're running one duplex or a ten-unit portfolio. A landlord, legally, is the person or entity that owns rental property and leases it to a tenant in exchange for rent, taking on the legal duties that come with that relationship: providing a habitable unit, respecting the tenant's right to quiet enjoyment, following proper notice and eviction procedures, and handling the security deposit according to state law. Colorado law refers to this party as the "landlord" throughout the state's landlord-tenant statutes in Title 38, Article 12 ^[4]. The distinction matters for enforcement purposes. If you own the property but a management company signs the lease and collects rent, licensing and legal responsibility can still trace back to the property owner in most Denver rental licensing frameworks, since the license is generally tied to the property and its owner, more than the person managing day-to-day operations. Always confirm with Denver's Excise and Licenses office who needs to be named on the license application if you use a manager.

How to be a landlord: the practical checklist for 1-10 unit owners

Being a landlord well, more than legally, comes down to a short list of habits that separate smooth operators from the ones who end up in court or in a fine dispute with the city. First, get the paperwork right before you get a tenant in the door: license or registration where required, a written lease that matches your state's landlord-tenant statute, and a documented move-in condition report with photos or video. Second, screen consistently. Even if you're not running credit checks, apply the same criteria to every applicant (income verification, landlord reference, whatever you've chosen) so you're not exposed to a fair housing complaint for uneven treatment. Third, know your notice requirements cold. Colorado requires specific notice periods for entry and for lease termination that vary by lease type and reason, covered under C.R.S. § 38-12-902 for entry notice and separate statutory notice periods for nonpayment and lease violations ^[7]. Getting this wrong is one of the most common reasons a landlord loses an eviction case or gets hit with a habitability or privacy complaint. Fourth, budget for maintenance and inspections as an ongoing cost, not a one-time expense. Cities that require licensing, Denver included, generally require periodic re-inspection or renewal, and deferred maintenance is the single most common reason a rental fails inspection. For a broader look at tenant-side expectations that intersect with all of this, see tenants rights and renters rights.

Who is responsible for a rental property walk-through inspection in California (and how that compares to Denver)?

This question comes up a lot because California's inspection framework works differently from Colorado's, and landlords moving between states (or researching both) mix up the rules. In California, move-in and move-out walk-through inspections are primarily a landlord responsibility under California Civil Code § 1950.5, which requires landlords to offer tenants an initial move-out inspection before the final deposit deduction, giving the tenant a chance to fix issues themselves before move-out charges apply ^[8]. That's a tenant-protection mechanic specific to California's deposit law. It is not a Denver or Colorado requirement. Colorado's deposit statute (C.R.S. § 38-12-103) sets a return deadline and requires an itemized statement for deductions, but it does not mandate a pre-move-out walk-through inspection the way California does ^[4]. Where California and Denver do overlap: both put the burden of documenting property condition on the landlord. If a Denver landlord wants to keep any part of a security deposit for damage, they need their own move-in and move-out documentation to back it up, even without a state-mandated walk-through process. A landlord who skips this step in either state is the one who loses a deposit dispute when a tenant challenges the deduction in small claims court. So the short answer: in California, the landlord is responsible for offering the walk-through inspection opportunity. In Denver and the rest of Colorado, there's no equivalent statutory walk-through requirement, but smart landlords do one anyway to protect themselves.

What can a landlord look at during an inspection?

There are two different kinds of "inspection" that get confused: a city rental licensing inspection, and a landlord's own property condition inspection during a tenancy. They have different rules. A Denver rental licensing inspection, done as part of getting or renewing a rental license, generally checks health and safety items: smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, egress windows, electrical and plumbing condition, heating function, and general habitability markers. Confirm the current checklist with Denver's rental licensing office, since inspection scope gets updated periodically. A landlord's own mid-tenancy inspection is different and narrower. Colorado law requires landlords to give notice before entering an occupied unit (generally 24 hours in most lease templates, though the exact standard can be set by lease terms and reasonable notice principles under Colorado law) and the purpose has to be legitimate: checking for maintenance issues, verifying smoke detector function, or confirming lease compliance ^[7]. A landlord doing a routine inspection can look at general condition and safety issues. What they generally cannot do is search personal belongings, show up without proper notice except in a true emergency, or use inspection access as a pretext for harassment. For an Ohio-specific example of where the line sits (since this comes up often in landlord forums), Ohio Revised Code § 5321.04 requires landlords to give tenants reasonable notice, in most cases at least 24 hours, before entering for inspection, repairs, or showing the unit, and prohibits abuse of the right of access . What a landlord cannot do in Ohio, specifically, includes entering without that notice except for emergencies, entering at unreasonable hours, or using entry rights to harass a tenant, per the same statute. Colorado's framework runs on similar principles even though the statutory language differs.

What rights do tenants have without a lease?

A tenant without a written lease still has rights. Colorado treats an undocumented but ongoing tenancy (paying rent, living in the unit with the landlord's knowledge) as a month-to-month tenancy under state law, and month-to-month tenants get the same core protections as tenants with a written lease: the right to a habitable unit, protection from illegal lockout or utility shutoff, and a required notice period before the landlord can terminate the tenancy. For a month-to-month tenancy without a written lease term specifying otherwise, Colorado generally requires the landlord to give notice before ending the tenancy, with the length tied to how long the tenancy has run; check current Colorado statute for the specific notice period tied to your tenancy length, since these thresholds have been adjusted by recent legislative changes ^[7]. A tenant without a lease also keeps their right to the security deposit protections under C.R.S. § 38-12-103, their right to withhold rent or pursue repair remedies if the unit becomes uninhabitable and the landlord doesn't fix it after notice, and their protection under fair housing law regardless of whether anything is in writing. What a tenant without a lease does lose is the certainty of fixed terms: rent amount, exact end date, and specific rules can all be changed by the landlord with proper notice in a way a fixed-term lease would lock in. That's the real practical risk of skipping a written lease, for both sides. For more detail on this, see tenant rights and tenant and tenant.

Why do landlords require renters insurance?

Landlords require renters insurance mainly to shift liability and personal property risk away from themselves. A landlord's own property insurance covers the building structure, not the tenant's belongings, and it generally does not cover a tenant's liability if the tenant accidentally causes damage (a kitchen fire, an overflowing tub that damages the unit below). Requiring renters insurance, often with a modest liability minimum like $100,000, means if a tenant's negligence causes a fire or a flood, the tenant's policy is the first line of financial responsibility instead of the landlord's policy or the landlord's own pocket. It also covers the tenant's own belongings if something goes wrong, which reduces the odds a tenant tries to hold the landlord financially responsible for their damaged furniture or electronics after a covered loss. There's no Colorado or Denver law requiring landlords to mandate renters insurance, but it's become a standard lease clause for small landlords precisely because the downside protection is cheap for the tenant (renters insurance policies commonly run in the range of $15 to $30 a month depending on coverage and location) and meaningful for the landlord's risk exposure. A landlord who skips credit checks but requires renters insurance is making a reasonable trade: they're accepting more risk on payment history in exchange for verified applicants, while still closing off the liability gap that has nothing to do with creditworthiness at all.

How much notice does a landlord have to give?

It depends on what the notice is for, and the state and city both matter. In Colorado, entry notice, lease termination notice, and eviction notice each run on different timelines. For entry to the unit for repairs or inspection, Colorado law and most lease templates use a 24-hour standard as a reasonable notice benchmark, though the exact requirement can be shaped by lease language ^[7]. For ending a month-to-month tenancy, Colorado's statutory notice period depends on how long the tenancy has been in place; shorter tenancies get shorter notice periods and longer-running tenancies get longer ones, so check the current statute or Denver-specific tenant protection ordinance for your exact situation, since Denver has added local tenant protections on top of state law in recent years. For nonpayment of rent, Colorado requires a specific demand notice period before a landlord can file an eviction, and that period has changed via recent legislation, so confirm the current number with the Colorado judicial branch's eviction resources or your city's tenant rights office rather than relying on an old figure. The short, honest answer: notice periods in Colorado are not one-size-fits-all, they've shifted with recent state legislation, and a landlord who guesses wrong on notice length is one of the most common reasons an eviction filing gets thrown out or delayed.

Frequently asked questions

Do Denver landlords have to run a credit check on applicants?

No. Neither Colorado state law nor Denver's rental licensing ordinance requires a landlord to run a credit check before renting a unit. Screening method is the landlord's choice, though any screening criteria used must be applied consistently across applicants to avoid fair housing violations under the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, C.R.S. § 24-34-502.

Is it safe to rent from a landlord who doesn't check credit?

It can be, but ask what they check instead, income verification, landlord references, or a background check. A landlord skipping credit checks isn't automatically less legitimate; many are small owners relying on personal judgment. Ask for a written lease regardless, since verbal-only agreements make disputes harder to resolve later.

What is the difference between landlording and being a landlord?

Landlording describes the ongoing work: screening, leasing, collecting rent, handling repairs, and staying compliant. Being a landlord describes the legal role and status, the person who owns the property and holds the legal duties under state landlord-tenant law, such as Colorado's Title 38, Article 12 statutes covering habitability and deposits.

What can a landlord look at during a routine inspection?

A landlord doing a routine inspection can check general condition, safety features like smoke detectors, and maintenance issues, after giving proper notice (commonly 24 hours under most Colorado lease terms). They generally cannot search personal belongings or use the inspection as a pretext to harass a tenant or retaliate.

What can't a landlord do in Ohio during an inspection or entry?

Under Ohio Revised Code § 5321.04, a landlord cannot enter without giving reasonable notice, generally at least 24 hours except in emergencies, cannot enter at unreasonable hours, and cannot abuse the right of access to harass a tenant. Colorado applies similar reasonable-notice principles even though the statute differs.

Do tenants have rights if they never signed a written lease?

Yes. Colorado treats an ongoing tenancy without a written lease as month-to-month, and month-to-month tenants keep core protections: habitability rights, security deposit protections under C.R.S. § 38-12-103, and a required notice period before the landlord can end the tenancy.

Why do landlords require renters insurance if they're not checking credit?

Renters insurance covers liability and personal property risk that a landlord's own building insurance doesn't touch, like tenant-caused fire damage or a tenant's personal belongings. It's a separate risk category from creditworthiness, so a landlord can reasonably skip credit checks while still requiring renters insurance.

How much notice does a Denver landlord have to give before ending a lease?

It depends on tenancy length and lease type, and Colorado's statutory notice periods have changed through recent legislation. Denver has also layered local tenant protections on top of state law. Confirm the current required notice period with Colorado's judicial branch resources or Denver's tenant rights office before acting.

How do I become a landlord in Denver specifically?

Confirm whether your property needs a Denver rental license through the Department of Excise and Licenses, schedule the required inspection, and submit your application with the current fee. Then build a compliant lease under Colorado landlord-tenant law and set up a documented move-in condition process.

Who is responsible for the move-in and move-out inspection, the landlord or the tenant?

In most states including Colorado, documenting the inspection is effectively the landlord's responsibility if they want to defend deposit deductions later, even without a specific statutory mandate. California is different: Civil Code § 1950.5 requires landlords to offer tenants a pre-move-out inspection opportunity before final deductions.

Can a landlord treat applicants differently based on credit check status?

A landlord can choose not to run credit checks at all, but cannot apply screening standards unevenly based on a protected characteristic like race, familial status, or source of income. Uneven screening practices are one of the more common fair housing complaint triggers under federal and Colorado anti-discrimination law.

What's the real risk for a landlord who skips credit checks entirely?

The main risk is payment reliability: without a credit history, a landlord is leaning entirely on income verification, references, and gut judgment. That's manageable for a small landlord who screens carefully on other fronts, but it does raise the odds of missing a pattern that a credit report would have flagged.

Sources

1. Colorado Revised Statutes § 38-12-903: Landlords charging a tenant screening fee must disclose criteria and limit fee use to actual screening costs
2. Colorado Revised Statutes § 24-34-502: Colorado's Anti-Discrimination Act bars discriminatory housing practices based on protected classes including source of income
3. Colorado Revised Statutes § 38-12-103: Colorado landlords must return security deposits within 60 days unless the lease specifies a shorter period, with an itemized statement for deductions
4. Colorado Revised Statutes § 38-12-503: Colorado's warranty of habitability statute sets minimum habitability standards landlords must meet
5. Colorado Revised Statutes § 38-12-902: Colorado sets notice requirements for landlord entry and related tenant protections
6. California Civil Code § 1950.5: California landlords must offer tenants an initial move-out inspection before making final security deposit deductions
7. Ohio Revised Code § 5321.04: Ohio landlords must give reasonable notice, generally at least 24 hours, before entering a rental unit, and cannot abuse the right of access
8. 42 U.S.C. § 3604 (Fair Housing Act): The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in the sale or rental of housing based on protected characteristics including race, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability