Renting a condo in Denver: what to know before you sign

Most of the rentals inside Denver's central neighborhoods are condos: individually owned units in a building run by a homeowners association. They are usually newer, more secure and closer to work and nightlife than a house, and they come with a layer of rules that a house does not. This guide is for renters weighing a Denver condo. We manage condos for owners across the metro, so the advice below is what we tell our own applicants.

What Denver condos rent for in 2026

The wave of new apartment construction that cooled Denver rents through 2024 and 2025 is tapering off, and 2026 is shaping up as a bottoming-out year for the metro. Condos sit in the middle of the market, and the spread between buildings is wide.

Condo type	Typical monthly rent, fall 2026
Studio	About $1,300 to $1,600
One-bedroom	About $1,500 to $1,900
Two-bedroom	About $1,900 to $2,600
Two-bedroom, renovated, in LoDo, Cherry Creek, the Highlands or Wash Park	$2,600 to $3,500 and up

Three things move a condo's rent more than its square footage: whether a parking space comes with it, which utilities the HOA covers, and the building's amenities. A unit with deeded garage parking and water, heat and trash bundled through the association can be a better deal at $2,100 than a cheaper one where you pay $150 a month for a parking permit and every utility separately. Owners thinking about the other side of this math can read our Denver rental market report.

How the HOA affects you as a tenant

When you lease a condo, your lease will say you agree to follow the association's governing documents. That means the HOA's rules bind you even though you never signed anything with the HOA. The ones that catch renters most often:

• Pets. Many Denver associations cap the number, size or breed of pets, and some ban them in rentals entirely, regardless of what the owner would allow. Colorado's limits on pet deposits ($300 refundable) and pet rent ($35 a month or 1.5 percent of rent, whichever is greater) still apply to what the owner can charge you.
• Parking. Spaces may be deeded to the unit, assigned by the HOA, or first come first served. Guest parking is often limited and towed. Confirm exactly which space is yours in writing.
• Move-in rules. Elevator reservations, move-in fees of $100 to $500, weekday-only windows and deposits for the freight elevator are all common in mid-rise and high-rise buildings. Ask who pays the HOA move-in fee; it is negotiable.
• Noise, balconies and grills. Quiet hours, no gas grills on balconies and no items hung over railings are standard. Fines for violations are usually charged to the owner, who passes them to you under the lease.
• Subletting and short-term rentals. Almost every Denver HOA prohibits tenants from listing the unit on Airbnb or subletting without approval, and Denver's short-term rental license requires the host to live there anyway. Assume the answer is no.
• Rental caps. Some associations limit how many units can be rented at once. If the owner is over the cap, the HOA can force the tenancy to end. A manager will have checked this before listing; it is fair to ask. Our guide to HOA rental restrictions in Colorado explains what owners have to verify.

Ask for the rules and regulations before you apply. A good manager sends them with the lease without being asked.

The Denver rental license, and why renters should care

Denver requires a residential rental license for long-term rentals, and it applies to a single condo, not just apartment buildings. To get one, the owner has to pass a third-party inspection covering smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, egress windows, electrical and plumbing basics, and heating. For a renter, that license is a simple signal that someone independent has checked the unit is safe to live in. You can ask the owner or manager for the license number, and the city keeps a public lookup. An owner who does not have one is renting out of compliance, which tells you something about how the rest of the tenancy is likely to go. The owner-side details are in our Denver rental license guide.

What is usually included, and what is not

• Often bundled through the HOA: water, sewer, trash and recycling, exterior maintenance, snow removal, and in older buildings with central boilers, heat or gas.
• Usually the tenant's: electricity, internet and cable, renters insurance, and any utilities metered to the unit.
• Varies: parking, storage lockers, gym or pool access, and in-unit laundry. Some buildings charge the owner separately for these and the owner may or may not pass that on.

Have the lease list every included item by name. "Utilities included" is not specific enough, and a vague line is where disputes start.

Questions to ask before signing a Denver condo lease

1. Which space is my parking, and is it deeded, assigned or permit?
2. What exactly does the HOA cover, and is any of it billed back to me?
3. What are the HOA's pet, guest and move-in rules, and can I have a copy?
4. Who pays the HOA move-in fee and any fines?
5. What is the Denver rental license number for the unit?
6. Who handles repairs inside the unit versus building issues like the boiler or the roof, and what is the maintenance phone number?
7. Is there any pending special assessment or major building project that would affect the unit during my lease?

The Colorado rules that protect condo renters too

Everything in state law applies in a condo the same as a house. The income requirement a landlord can set is capped at twice the rent. The application fee is limited to the landlord's actual screening cost, and a portable screening report from the last 30 days has to be accepted. The security deposit is capped at two months' rent and must be returned with an itemized statement within the statutory deadline. Late fees are capped at $50 or 5 percent of rent and cannot start until rent is seven days late. Our Colorado landlord-tenant law guide covers each of these, and our Arvada and Westminster renter's guide walks through the application process step by step.

Renting from Home Remedies Property Management

We are a family-owned company based in Westminster, managing condos, townhomes, single-family homes and small multi-family buildings across Denver and the north metro. Our tenants deal directly with the people who manage the home, repairs go through a 24/7 maintenance line, and rent is paid online. When one of our homes comes open, it is listed on the major rental sites and shared first with the renters on our list. Tell us what you are looking for or call (303) 515-1352.