Cal. Civ. Code § 38-12-513

Receivership of residential housing - definition.

In Force
Verified 10/16/2026 · Next check 10/23/2026
effective 10/16/2026ColoradoHabitability & Repair

Operative Text

Cal. Civ. Code § 38-12-513
(1) The
purpose of this section is to establish a receivership mechanism that will be
available as a remedy for violations of applicable laws and regulations by the
landlord of multifamily residential property. The duties of a receiver are to
achieve the purposes of this part 5 pursuant to section 38-12-501, to ensure
that multifamily residential property is fit for human habitation as required
by section 38-12-503 (1), and to ensure that the multifamily residential
property complies with all county or municipal public health codes or municipal
ordinances regulating public health and safety that apply to multifamily
residential property.

(2) The
following parties may apply to the district court for the appointment of a
receiver to operate a multifamily residential property:

(a) The
attorney general, when the attorney general has reasonable cause to believe
that any person, whether in this state or elsewhere, has engaged in or is
engaging in a pattern of neglect in connection with the multifamily residential
property; and

(b) A
county, city and county, or municipality when the county, city and county, or
municipality has reasonable cause to believe that any person, whether in this
state or elsewhere, has engaged in or is engaging in a pattern of neglect in
connection with the multifamily residential property.

(c) As
used in this subsection (2), unless the context otherwise requires,
"pattern of neglect" means evidence that a person has maintained the
multifamily residential property in a state of disrepair that constitutes a
threat to the health, safety, or security of the tenants or the public. A
threat to the health, safety, or security of the tenants includes:

(I) A
vermin or rat infestation;

(II) 
Filth or contamination;

(III) 
Inadequate ventilation, illumination, sanitary, heating, or life safety
facilities;

(IV) 
Inoperative fire suppression or warning equipment;

(V) 
Inoperative doors or window locks; and

(VI) 
Any other condition that constitutes a hazard to tenants, occupants, or the
public.

(3) (a) 
A petitioner seeking the appointment of a receiver pursuant to this section
must file an application with the district court for the county or city and
county where the multifamily residential property is located.

(b) (I) 
The district court shall not hold a hearing concerning an application for the
appointment of a receiver pursuant to this section sooner than three business
days after the following parties have been served with notice thereof, as
provided in the Colorado rules of civil procedure:

(A) The
landlord of the multifamily residential property;

(B) Any
lessee or mortgagee of the multifamily residential property; except that the
failure to serve any such party whose name and address are not available to the
petitioner does not preclude the court from holding the hearing or invalidating
the proceeding so long as the notice is posted at the property;

(C) The
city or town in which the multifamily residential property is located;

(D) The
county or city and county in which the multifamily residential property is
located;

(E) The
attorney general's office;

(F) The
department of local affairs; and

(G) If
the multifamily residential property is subject to a form of local, state, or
federal government subsidy or support or other government assistance that has a
recorded use covenant upon the property, the provider of that subsidy, support,
or other government assistance.

(II) In
providing notice pursuant to subsection (3)(b)(I) of this section, a party does
not have to provide notice to itself.

(III) A
petitioner seeking the appointment of a receiver pursuant to this section must
conspicuously post notice of the petition on and around the relevant
multifamily residential property. This notice shall include the phone number
and email address of the petitioner. The petitioner is strongly encouraged to
post the notice in languages other than English, if the petitioner is aware
that those languages are spoken by the property's tenants.

(c) An
application for appointment of a receiver pursuant to this subsection (3) has
precedence and priority over any civil or criminal case pending in the district
court where the application is filed.

(4) (a) 
The district court's appointment of a receiver pursuant to this section shall
be in accordance with and governed by rule 66 of the Colorado rules of civil
procedure.

(b) To
appoint a receiver pursuant to this section, the district court must find that:

(I) 
Grounds for the appointment of a receiver exist due to a finding by the
district court, based on a preponderance of the evidence, supporting the
relevant claims in an application submitted by a party pursuant to subsection
(2) of this section; and

(II) 
Proper notice as required by subsection (3) of this section has been served.

(c) A
receiver appointed by the district court pursuant to this section must be a
person with knowledge and experience in the operation, maintenance, and
improvement of residential housing. The receiver must be financially and
legally independent of the multifamily residential property's ownership or
management. The district court may also require that the receiver post a bond
with adequate sureties as determined by the court.

(d) In
appointing a receiver pursuant to this section, the district court must hold a
hearing, at which time the parties may appear and be heard.

(e) 
Following the hearing described in subsection (4)(d) of this section, if the
court appoints a receiver, the court must enter an order of appointment that
specifies the duties and responsibilities of the receiver, which must include
that the receiver:

(I) 
Within thirty days of being appointed by the district court, submit a plan to
the district court for the remediation of any violations of this part 5, other
than a violation of section 38-12-503 (5), a county or city and county public
health code, or a municipal ordinance;

(II) 
Take the actions necessary to ensure that the multifamily residential property
is no longer in violation of this part 5, other than a violation of section
38-12-503 (5), a county or city and county public health code, or a municipal
ordinance;

(III) 
No later than every thirty days after being appointed by the district court,
submit an accounting and status report to the district court, which must
include actions that have been completed and actions that are still ongoing to
achieve compliance with this part 5, a county or city and county public health
code, or a municipal ordinance; and

(IV) At
the end of the receivership, as described in subsection (8) of this section,
submit a final accounting and status report to the court, which must include
actions that have been completed and actions that are still ongoing to achieve
compliance with this part 5, a county or city and county public health code, or
a municipal ordinance.

(5) (a) 
A receiver appointed by the district court pursuant to this section has the
power to:

(I) 
Remediate any violation by the multifamily residential property of this part 5,
other than a violation of section 38-12-503 (5), a county or city and county
public health code, or a municipal ordinance;

(II) As
necessary to accomplish the remediation and compliance described in subsection
(5)(a)(I) of this section:

(A) 
Enter into new contracts;

(B) 
Borrow money;

(C) 
Secure funds by granting liens upon the multifamily residential property; and

(D) 
Receive rent from tenants of the multifamily residential property; and

(III) 
Exercise any other powers deemed necessary by the district court and not
inconsistent with rule 66 of the Colorado rules of civil procedure.

(b) The
receiver's fees established in the district court's order of appointment
entered pursuant to subsection (4)(e) of this section may only be covered by
money that the receiver raises pursuant to subsection (5)(a)(II)(C) of this
section.

(c) In
exercising its powers pursuant to this subsection (5), a receiver is not
required to employ standard public bidding practices and may:

(I) 
Carry out executory contracts;

(II) 
Enter into new contracts;

(III) 
Borrow money;

(IV) 
Mortgage or pledge property;

(V) 
Sell assets at public or private sale;

(VI) 
Make and receive conveyances in the corporate name;

(VII) 
Lease real estate;

(VIII) 
Settle or compromise claims;

(IX) 
Commence and prosecute all actions and proceedings necessary to enable
liquidation; and

(X) 
Distribute assets either in cash or in kind among members according to their
respective rights after paying or adequately providing for the payment of
liabilities.

(6) The
receiver shall perform duties, assume responsibilities, and preserve the
multifamily residential property in accordance with established principles of
law for receivers of real property. In so doing, the receiver:

(a) 
Shall perform their duties in a way that minimizes, to the greatest extent
possible, further disruption of the multifamily residential property's tenants;

(b) 
Shall communicate, at least once a week, in a manner reasonably calculated to
be received by the multifamily residential property's tenants, such as by
conspicuously posting communications on and around the property or on the
property's online tenant portal, concerning what measures the receiver is
taking to bring the property into compliance with a county or city and county
public health code, or a municipal ordinance and otherwise bringing the
property into compliance with this part 5;

(c) 
Shall first apply rents received pursuant to subsection (5)(a)(II)(D) of this
section toward the payment of any utilities or services for the multifamily
residential property;

(d) 
After applying rents received pursuant to subsection (5)(a)(II)(D) of this
section as described in subsection (6)(c) of this section, shall apply rents
received pursuant to subsection (5)(a)(II)(D) of this section toward the cost
of remediating any violation by the multifamily residential property of this
part 5, other than a violation of section 38-12-503 (5), a county or city and
county public health code, or a municipal ordinance and otherwise bringing the
property into compliance with this part 5;

(e) 
After applying rents received pursuant to subsection (5)(a)(II)(D) of this
section as described in subsection (6)(d) of this section, shall apply rents
received pursuant to subsection (5)(a)(II)(D) of this section for purposes
reasonably necessary in the ordinary course of business of the multifamily
residential property, including maintenance and upkeep of the property;
mortgages, or other debts; and payment of the receiver's fees;

(f) Has
a fiduciary duty to the owner of the multifamily residential property to
maintain and preserve the property so long as the violation by the multifamily
residential property of this part 5, other than a violation of section
38-12-503 (5), is addressed, and owes a duty to the property's residents;

(g) 
Shall not initiate a forcible entry or detainer action or proceeding related to
the nonpayment of before the beginning of the receivership;

(h) May
initiate a forcible entry or detainer action or proceeding related to the
nonpayment of rent that occurs during the receivership; and

(i) 
Shall not increase rents, fees, or costs charged to the multifamily residential
property's tenants beyond the levels of the rents, fees, and costs charged when
the court appointed the receiver.

(7) 
Nothing in this section prevents the court from altering or amending the terms
and conditions of the receivership or the receiver's responsibilities and
duties following a hearing, at which time the parties may appear and be heard,
and nothing in this section prohibits the parties from stipulating to the terms
and conditions of the receivership and the responsibilities and duties of the
receiver, including the duration thereof, which stipulation must be submitted
to the court for approval.

(8) (a) 
No sooner than ninety days after the district court has appointed a receiver
for a multifamily residential property, any of the following may submit an
application to the district court seeking the termination of the receivership:

(I) The
landlord of the multifamily residential property;

(II) 
Any lessee of the entire multifamily residential property;

(III) 
The attorney general's office;

(IV) 
The city or town in which the multifamily residential property is located; and

(V) The
county or city and county in which the multifamily residential property is
located.

(b) A
district court may only terminate a receivership if it:

(I) 
Receives an application to terminate the receivership pursuant to subsection
(8)(a) of this section;

(II) 
Finds that terminating a receivership is in the public interest and in the best
interest of the multifamily residential property's tenants; and

(III) 
Finds that the landlord, operator, or manager of the multifamily residential
property has:

(A) 
Demonstrated that it will carry out, in the time frame most recently approved
by the court pursuant to subsection (4) or (7) of this section, any remaining
actions identified by the receiver as necessary to ensure that the multifamily
residential property is no longer in violation of this part 5, other than a
violation of section 38-12-503 (5), a county or city and county public health
code, or a municipal ordinance;

(B) 
Paid or deposited with the district court any money necessary for the receiver
to complete their duties pursuant to this section;

(C) 
Agreed to assume all legal obligations, including debt or liens, incurred by
the receiver in connection with the receivership of the multifamily residential
property;

(D) 
Paid any costs incurred by the receiver in connection with the receivership of
the multifamily residential property; and

(E) 
Posted a bond with the district court in an amount determined by the district
court and equal to not more than fifty percent of the fair market value of the
multifamily residential property, which bond is forfeited in the event of
future violation by the multifamily residential property of this part 5, other
than a violation of section 38-12-503 (5), a county or city and county public
health code, or a municipal ordinance and failure to bring the multifamily
residential property into compliance with this part 5, county or city and
county public health codes, and municipal ordinances, and which bond is
released when the actions, obligations, and indebtedness identified in this
subsection (8)(b)(III) are completed or otherwise satisfied.

(c) 
Notwithstanding subsection (8)(b) of this section, the district court may
terminate the receivership upon a finding that the receiver has completed its
work and that all violations by the multifamily residential property of this
part 5, other than a violation of section 38-12-503 (5), a county or city and
county public health code, or a municipal ordinance have been remedied and the
multifamily residential property has been brought into compliance with this
part 5, county or city and county public health codes, and municipal
ordinances.

(d) 
Upon a finding that the landlord of the multifamily residential property has
not complied with any of the conditions identified in subsection (8)(b)(III) of
this section, the district court may reappoint the receiver.

(e) 
After terminating the receivership pursuant to this subsection (8), the
district court:

(I) May
appoint the receiver, or another qualified entity that satisfies the
requirements of a receiver established in subsection (4)(c) of this section, to
monitor the landlord's operation and maintenance of the multifamily residential
property;

(II) 
Shall order a final accounting and finally fix the fees and expenses of the
receiver following a hearing, at which time the parties may appear and be
heard; and

(III) 
Shall require the receiver to communicate in a manner reasonably calculated to
be available to the multifamily residential property's tenants, such as by
conspicuously posting communications on and around the property or on the
property's online tenant portal, that the receivership has been terminated and
the name, phone number, and email address of the owner, manager, or other
entity that will assume the responsibility of making the property compliant
with this part 5, a county or city and county public health code, or a
municipal ordinance.

(9) 
Notwithstanding anything in this section to the contrary:

(a) 
Nothing in this section relieves the landlord of the multifamily residential
property of any civil or criminal liability or any duty imposed by reason of
acts or omissions of the landlord, nor does the district court's appointment of
a receiver suspend any obligation the landlord of the multifamily residential
property or any other person may have for payment of taxes, any operating or
maintenance expenses, or mortgages or liens, or for repair of the multifamily
residential property;

(b) A
receiver appointed by a district court pursuant to this section is liable for
injuries to persons and property to the same extent as the landlord of the
multifamily residential property would have been liable; except that, such
liability is limited to the assets and income of the receivership, including
any proceeds of insurance purchased by the receiver in its capacity as
receiver;

(c) A
receiver is not personally liable for actions or inactions within the scope of
the receiver's capacity as receiver;

(d) 
Only a suit approved by the district court that appoints the receiver may be
brought against the receiver;

(e) 
Nothing in this section limits the right of tenants to seek a remedy for a
violation of this part 5, other than a violation of section 38-12-503 (5),
including a breach of the warranty of habitability, that occurred before the
appointment of a receiver pursuant to this section;

(f) 
Nothing in this section limits the powers of any home rule municipality to
enact ordinances or otherwise safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of
residents of multifamily residential properties; and

(g) 
Nothing in this section limits the right of tenants to raise any counterclaims
or defenses in any summary process or other action regarding possession brought
by a receiver.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-513 establishes a court-supervised receivership mechanism as a remedy when a landlord of a multifamily residential property has engaged in a pattern of neglect that threatens tenant health, safety, or security. Under this provision, a district court may appoint an independent receiver — someone with relevant knowledge and experience — to take over operation of the property, bring it into compliance with habitability and public health standards, and report regularly to the court. The receivership can be terminated once violations are remedied or once the landlord satisfies specific conditions set by the court, including posting a bond and assuming all obligations incurred during the receivership.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 16, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Under Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-513, operators of multifamily residential properties who allow conditions to deteriorate to the point of constituting a pattern of neglect — such as vermin infestations, inoperative fire safety equipment, or inadequate sanitation — risk having the attorney general or a local government seek court appointment of a receiver to take over property operations. A compliant operator generally maintains the property in a state that meets habitability and public health code requirements, thereby avoiding the grounds that trigger a receivership petition. Landlords who find themselves subject to a receivership remain liable for taxes, mortgages, and other obligations, and must satisfy a series of court-imposed conditions — including posting a bond of up to fifty percent of the property's fair market value — before the receivership can be terminated at their request.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-513 is designed to protect tenants of multifamily residential properties by giving the attorney general and local governments a tool to seek court-supervised management when a landlord's neglect threatens health, safety, or security. Tenants retain all rights they had before a receivership begins, including the right to pursue remedies for habitability violations that occurred prior to the receiver's appointment, and the right to raise counterclaims or defenses in any possession action brought by the receiver. Tenants who believe their property may qualify for receivership — due to conditions such as vermin infestations, inoperative locks, or failed fire suppression systems — may consider contacting their local municipality, the county, or a tenant-rights organization to learn about available enforcement paths under this provision.

General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.

Generated October 16, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

Effective Timeline

Current
Oct 16, 2026
Click on timeline segments to view historical versions.

References Out

Rules and statutes cited by this regulation

Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-501
Not yet ingested
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-503
Not yet ingested

References In

No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.

Related Rules

§ 244.260
Compliance required
§ 14.567
ADOPTED BY REFERENCE
§ 244.340
Sewer and water connections

Source Information

Snapshot SHA:
Fetched:Oct 16, 2026, 05:03 PM UTC