The City of Boulder has launched two new tools – a rental property owner notification system and a tenant resource –guide – designed to encourage better communication and problem-solving between landlords and renters.
The tools are part of ongoing efforts to ensure all residents can thrive where they live and to address rare, disruptive instances of chronic nuisance properties.
The rental property notification system aims to bring transparency and awareness to certain types of calls for service at rental properties. The goal of the tool is to help landlords identify quickly if an ongoing issue is present so they can work with their tenants to find a solution through conversation and problem-solving.
Feedback from the Boulder Area Rental Housing Association suggests that a lack of awareness about calls for service can make it difficult for rental property owners and managers to be proactive in helping their tenants thrive. This new tool will provide the necessary knowledge to help landlords and tenants prevent patterns of nuisance behaviors.
The tool shares calls for service data directly with the email on file for rental license holders for certain calls for service to their property. The tool does NOT include medical calls or calls related to possible domestic violence, child abuse or sex crimes as the city does not want to discourage individuals from seeking help for these legally protected and sensitive offenses. A call for service is when someone calls 9-1-1 or the non-emergency dispatch line to request assistance or report a concern.
The notification system launched on Monday, July 17.
The tenant resource guide outlines who to call when you need housing help. If you have an issue with your rental unit, let someone know so they can address it as quickly as possible.
This guide includes general information and resources for renters, who to contact for urgent help, how to submit a report if essential repairs aren’t addressed in a timely manner, and resources for eviction prevention or discrimination concerns.
This is a printable file, and the city has asked that rental property owners post it in a visible place. Tenants are also welcome to print this as a resource to keep handy.
A call for service means someone called 9-1-1 or non-emergency dispatch to report an issue or request assistance from police, fire, or both.
No. Notifications will not include medical calls or sex crimes, child abuse or domestic violence-related calls. Please do not hesitate to call 9-1-1 for any of these critical, life-safety calls.
Additionally, notifications will not include services from Code Enforcement or Code Compliance generated through direct calls or Inquire Boulder.
Notifications are generated when a call for service is made to an address. The system uses base addresses for data-sharing. This means rental license holders with addresses attached to units in multi-family developments will be notified when there is a call for service to any unit within the development. Unit numbers will be included in the notification if they are available.
Under many circumstances, callers do not know the unit number or provide inaccurate unit information when the call is placed to dispatch.
No, it only implies there was a call for service to the address. Notifications DO NOT imply guilt, responsibility, or legal action. This is intended to be an awareness tool and the city hopes property owners will look for patterns of conduct that could violate city regulations. The goal is for landlords to address concerns directly with tenants and do their part to resolve issues constructively and promptly.
If additional information about a call is needed, reports can be requested from the Boulder Police Department.
The Boulder Police Department maintains multiple databases. Reports, which show outcomes, can be requested online. There may be fees associated with report requests.
Tenants and landlords can learn more about their rights and find resources on the city’s website.
If you believe you have been the target of discrimination, you can file a claim through the City of Boulder’s Human Rights Ordinance. This is a free service that is provided to anyone regardless of their immigration status, country of origin, and language. Learn more on the city’s website.
Yes. You can sign up to receive notifications about upcoming engagement opportunities by entering your email in the form at the bottom of this page.
All addresses associated with a rental license will receive a notification of a call to service (excluding medical calls or sex crimes, child abuse or domestic violence-related calls). Notifications are generated when a call for service is made to an address. For addresses with multiple units (multi-family developments), the unit will not be specified. Under many circumstances, callers do not know the unit number or provide inaccurate unit information when the call is placed to dispatch.
The goal of the tool is to help you identify if an ongoing issue is present so you can work with your tenants to find a solution through conversation and problem-solving.
While the city has committed to sending a notification each time a call comes in, we encourage those responsible for a property to be looking for patterns of concern as opposed to isolated incidents.
The City of Boulder’s Community Mediation and Resolution Center provides mediation, restorative justice, meeting facilitation, landlord-tenant information and more. Mediation services helps parties resolve disputes, big or small, at no cost to you. Learn more on the city’s website or by calling 303-441-4364.
There is no opt out to this automated system. Knowing what is happening on the property is a critical first step for those responsible for a property.
From this Frequently Asked Questions page hosted by rental licensing, you can choose the actions you would like to take, and that includes a change in contact information. The notification system pulls from the applicant, owner and agent emails that are currently on file and associated with each rental license application.
The goal of the tool is to help those responsible for a rental property identify if an ongoing issue is present so they can expend the appropriate resources and work with tenants to find a solution through conversation and problem-solving.
If tenants have concerns about these discussions, the City of Boulder’s Community Mediation and Resolution Center provides mediation, restorative justice, meeting facilitation, landlord-tenant information and more. Mediation services helps parties resolve disputes, big or small, at no cost to you. Learn more on the city’s website or by calling 303-441-4364.
The goal of the tool is to help landlords identify if an ongoing issue is present so they can work with tenants to find a solution through conversation and problem-solving. The city encourages every landlord to be aware of what’s happening on their properties and offers mediation and other problem-solving solutions to ensure their properties comply with city regulations.
While the city has committed to sending a notification each time a call comes in, we encourage those responsible for a property to look for patterns of concern as opposed to isolated incidents.
If you are a tenant facing eviction, you can access legal and financial services through the Eviction Prevention and Rental Assistance Services (EPRAS) program. The program helps people resolve eviction-related housing issues through legal services, rental assistance and mediation. If you live in Boulder and are facing a potential eviction, don’t wait to act. Learn more on the city’s website.
If conditions in your building are putting you or others in immediate danger, leave the building and call 911. If there are essential repairs impacting health and safety that need to be addressed immediately, such as loss of heat or water, and your landlord does not respond promptly, contact Code Compliance at 303-441-3173 or submit a report on the city’s website.
