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(Provided by Gigafact)

No.

Landlords cannot fine the families of deceased tenants in Colorado under a law that went into effect Sept. 1.

House Bill 1108 prohibits landlords from charging early lease termination fees when a tenant dies before the end of their rental agreement. 

If a renter dies before the end of their lease, the new law voids any lease clause requiring the refund of move-in discounts, predetermined costs for lease termination and other early termination penalties.

The bill was introduced after the family of Leticia Farrer was charged more than $5,000 in early termination fees following her death in January 2024. 

Other states have taken similar steps to limit tenant liability in the event of their death. In 2016, Pennsylvania passed a law allowing a tenant’s estate to terminate a lease as soon as two months after their death. 

See full source list below.

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References:

House Bill 25-1108, Colorado General Assembly, June 4, 2025. Source link

Woman billed $5,255 to end lease after her death, Denver 9News, April 24, 2024, Source link

2016 Act 116, Pennsylvania General Assembly, Nov. 2 2016. Source link

Type of Story: Fact-Check

Checks a specific statement or set of statements asserted as fact.

Tyler has spent the last three years reporting on the environment, culture and local government in Colorado. Most recently, he spent time as a staff reporter and photographer for Boulder Weekly, where he covered the rapidly growing city of Longmont...