Re: “” Sept. 13 news story.
A report of the Colorado Center on Law and Policy says the success of landlords in evicting tenants is largely dependent upon whether the tenant is represented by an attorney. This conclusion doesn’t square with reality.
In our experience, 90-plus percent of eviction actions are filed for non-payment of rent. In the vast majority of those cases there is no defense. A tenant would be wasting money hiring an attorney if the rent isn’t paid. On the other hand it is cheaper for a landlord to hire an attorney to appear rather than waste his time or staff time.
Further the spokesperson for the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless wants to “keep people in their homes when the terms of eviction aren’t severe, like criminal activity.” Please tell that to the neighbors.
Finally, Ismael Guerrero of the Denver Housing Authority suggests a grievance process and a payment plan should apply to the private sector. Can I put my employees, vendors, lenders and partners on a payment plan? Of course not.
These ideas while well-meaning would only have the effect of increasing housing costs and hurting the middle class and the poor. The most effective way to address a housing shortage is with more supply.
dz´Ǵǻɲ, Greenwood Village
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