The portable tenant screening report Colorado HB23 1099 law requires Colorado landlords to accept a single, reusable screening report from prospective tenants instead of charging a new application fee for every home you apply to. These reports must include credit history, nationwide criminal and eviction records, employment and income verification, and a rental application from a consumer reporting agency. You can generate a compliant Experian-powered report in about 15 minutes, share it with unlimited landlords, and keep full control over who views your personal data.
Get your Portable Tenant Screening Report today and start applying with one reusable file.
This law changes how you search for your next home by eliminating extra fees and reducing wait times. Understanding the details of HB23-1099 ensures you get the full savings and protection during your rental search.
Colorado HB23-1099 is a state law that requires most landlords to accept a Portable Tenant Screening Report (PTSR) from prospective tenants. Eliminating the need to pay repeated application fees for every rental you apply to. The Colorado General Assembly passed this law to reduce the financial burden on renters and make the application process more transparent.
One of the main goals of this law is to lower the high costs of moving. In the past, renters often paid between $50 and $100 for each application. If you apply to five different homes, you could spend $500 just on fees. Using a PTSR lets you save that money for your security deposit or first month of rent instead. The savings add up fast:
Colorado law now puts the renter in control of their own data. You decide who sees your information and when they see it. This is a major shift from the old system where landlords held all the power. The law requires landlords to tell prospective tenants that they accept PTSRs before collecting any money, preventing you from paying unnecessary fees. This protection is part of a larger Colorado tenant screening reform that helps protect renters from rising housing costs.
A valid Portable Tenant Screening Report (PTSR) under Colorado law must include employment and income verification, rental history. Credit history, and a nationwide criminal background check performed by a consumer reporting agency within the last 30 days. Without these components, a landlord may legally reject the report and ask you to pay for a new screening.
The state law is clear about what must be in every report:
These requirements help Colorado tenant screening reform by making the process more open and consistent across all landlords.
Reports from Portable Tenant go beyond the basic legal requirements to give landlords a complete view of each applicant. Every report is Experian-powered and includes nationwide criminal and eviction records, income verification, and a full rental application.
| Information Type | HB23-1099 Required | Included in PTSR |
|---|---|---|
| Employment and income verification | Yes | Yes |
| Rental history | Yes | Yes |
| Credit history | Yes | Yes (Experian) |
| Criminal history | Yes | Yes (nationwide) |
| Eviction records | Not specified | Yes (nationwide) |
| Rental application form | Not required | Yes |
A valid report must follow federal rules as well as state law. Every PTSR from Portable Tenant is fully compliant with the Fair Housing Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). A consumer reporting agency must create the report for it to be legal, ensuring the data is accurate and privacy rules are followed.
Getting a Portable Tenant Screening Report (PTSR) in Colorado takes about 15 minutes through the Portable Tenant portal. The process is designed to be fast so you can start applying to rentals without delay.
You can check the pricing page for current rates. Plans typically range from $56 to $89 depending on the level of screening you choose.
A PTSR is valid for 30 days under Colorado law, or 60 days for renters who receive a housing subsidy under the new HB25-1236 rules. This 30-day window starts from the date the consumer reporting agency creates the report, not the date you receive it.
For most renters, a PTSR is valid for 30 days from the date of creation under HB23-1099. This ensures that the data landlords see is current and accurate. If your report is 31 days old, a landlord may legally reject it and ask you to pay for a new screening. The best strategy is to generate your report just before you start touring rentals so you have the full 30 days to apply.
HB25-1236 extended the validity period to 60 days for renters who use a housing subsidy. This gives low-income renters more time to find a home without paying for a second report. You can read more about the Colorado 30 vs. 60-day PTSR rule to see which applies to your situation.
Landlords may reject a PTSR for three specific reasons only:
If your report meets all legal requirements and is within the time limit, the landlord must accept it. Rejecting a valid report can result in a $2,500 penalty plus court costs and attorney fees per Colorado law.
When a tenant provides a valid PTSR, Colorado landlords must waive all application and screening fees. Accept the report in place of running their own background check, and provide written notice that they accept portable reports before collecting any money from applicants. These rules apply to most landlords under HB23-1099.
If a prospective tenant gives you a valid PTSR, you cannot charge them an application fee. You also cannot charge any fee to access or use the report you receive. You must tell all applicants that you accept PTSRs before you collect any money from them. Landlords can accept reports for free through the Portable Tenant platform with no setup costs or monthly fees.
You have the right to verify a tenant's PTSR in three steps to ensure the data is accurate. A report is only valid if a consumer reporting agency created it within the last 30 days. If you decide to run your own screening after receiving a PTSR, you must pay for it yourself. You must also give the tenant a copy of any report you order and inform them of their right to dispute errors.
Failure to follow these rules carries significant consequences. A landlord who violates HB23-1099 may face a $2,500 penalty plus court costs and attorney fees. However, the law includes a cure provision: if you fix the violation within seven days of receiving notice, the penalty drops to $50. Staying compliant protects your rental business and treats all applicants fairly.
A Colorado landlord may reject a PTSR only if the report is more than 30 days old. Missing legally required information, or the landlord qualifies for the single-application-fee exemption under HB23-1099. Understanding these rules helps you prepare a report that every landlord will accept.
To be valid, the report must be created within the last 30 days and contain specific information about your history. A valid report must include three main elements: your current employment and income, your rental and credit history, and your nationwide criminal record. If a report is missing any of these, a landlord can legally ask you to pay for a new screening. You can learn how to verify a tenant's PTSR to ensure it meets these requirements.
Some landlords are exempt from the PTSR requirement. This applies to those who only charge one application fee at a time for each rental unit. If a landlord follows this practice, they are not required to accept portable reports. However, if they do not select the tenant, they must refund the full fee within 20 days of the rejection. This protects renters from paying for screenings that never receive a proper review.
If a landlord runs their own report after rejecting your PTSR, you have specific rights under Colorado law. The landlord must give you a free copy of the consumer report they used. They must also tell you how to dispute any incorrect information with the reporting agency. Tracking PTSR validity periods helps you know when your report is still valid and whether a landlord is following the law.
HB25-1236, effective January 1, 2026. Removes credit barriers for housing assistance recipients by prohibiting landlords from requiring credit scores or credit history from tenants who use a housing subsidy. This new law builds on HB23-1099 to make the rental market more equitable for low-income Coloradans.
One of the biggest changes in HB25-1236 helps renters who receive rental assistance. If you use a housing subsidy, your Portable Tenant Screening Report does not need to include credit data or a credit score. Landlords cannot deny your application based on a low score if you have a verified subsidy. This creates a more equitable path to housing for thousands of renters across Colorado. Read more about the HB25-1236 bill on the Colorado General Assembly website.
The new law also changes how you share your report with landlords. Landlords can no longer force you to use a specific third-party website or platform to submit your PTSR. You have the right to provide your report in the way that works best for you. This ensures that landlords cannot create new barriers by requiring specific tools or services.
Along with credit and sharing protections, HB25-1236 extended the validity window for subsidy recipients to 60 days. This gives you more time to use a single report across multiple applications. You should check the PTSR validity periods to see how much time you have to apply under the new rules.
Yes. Renters who use Portable Tenant have full control over their data. You can revoke a landlord's access to your report at any time through your portal. This keeps your private information safe once a rental decision is made and ensures only people you trust can view your credit and rental history.
No. Colorado landlords can accept these reports for free with no setup costs or monthly fees. This makes it easy for property owners to comply with the law while getting Experian-verified screening data without any administrative work.
The landlord may run their own check, but they cannot charge you for it if you provided a valid PTSR. Under Colorado law, the landlord must give you a free copy of any report they order and tell you that you have the right to dispute any errors in that report.
Yes. To be valid under Colorado law, a report must verify your income and employment. Reports from Portable Tenant include this data alongside credit, criminal, and eviction records, meeting all requirements set by HB23-1099 for a valid PTSR.
You waste money every time you pay for a new application fee because you do not have a reusable report ready for your next rental. Waiting to set up your file means risking that another renter who already has their PTSR ready moves ahead of you. Getting your report now lets you take full control of your data and start applying with confidence.
Request your Portable Tenant Screening Report today and start applying to Colorado rentals with one reusable file. Landlords can learn how to accept reports for free and streamline their tenant screening process.