Colorado PTSR Timeline: When the Rules Start and What to Do if a Landlord Won’t Accept Your Report

If you’ve ever paid for screening more than once in the same month, you already know the problem: the rental process can be expensive, repetitive, and weirdly inconsistent from one landlord to the next.

Colorado’s updated portable tenant screening report rules (HB25-1236) are meant to make one part of that process less painful. Starting January 1, 2026, landlords must accept a valid portable tenant screening report (PTSR) you provide.

This article gives you:

• A simple timeline (what matters and when)
• A short prep checklist
• Calm, copy-paste scripts for when a landlord won’t accept your report

The timeline (what matters for renters)

Now through December 2025: get your application basics in order

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You don’t need to do anything dramatic. You just want to be ready to move fast when you find a place.

Prep checklist:

• Keep a folder with your ID, proof of income, and landlord references
• Decide how you’ll share your report (PDF, link, print)
• Make a habit of asking about fees in writing before you apply

If you want a checklist-style version of what to gather, see: rental application checklist.

If you want the overview of the law, start here: What Changes for Renters in 2026.

January 1, 2026: the updated rules take effect

Starting January 1, 2026, the key renter-facing change is simple:

• If you provide a valid PTSR, the landlord must accept it as part of your application review.

In this renter series, we’re using up to 60 days as the working validity window.

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January 2026 and after: what to expect during applications

A PTSR can reduce repeat screening fees and repeat steps, but it won’t eliminate everything a landlord may ask for.

You may still be asked for:

• Pay stubs or proof of income
• Employment verification
• Landlord references
• Pet documentation

That’s normal. The point is that your PTSR should be accepted, and you shouldn’t be pushed into paying for a duplicate screening report just to apply.

What to do before you apply (so you don’t get surprised)

Ask about fees, in writing

Not every listing is clear about what they charge.

Before you submit an application, ask:

• “If I provide a portable tenant screening report, what fees (if any) do you still charge, and what are they for?”

If they dodge the question, that’s useful information.

Ask how they want the report delivered

Some landlords prefer a PDF upload. Others prefer a link. Some want a printed copy.

Ask:

• “Do you accept portable tenant screening reports, and how should I send mine?”

If a landlord won’t accept your report: a calm escalation ladder

You’ll get farther with short, polite messages than with a legal argument.

Step 1: Confirm the basics (and keep it in writing)

Send:

• “I can provide a portable tenant screening report. It’s within the required time window. Can you confirm in writing whether you accept PTSRs, and if not, why?”

Step 2: Ask what they want instead (and why)

If they say “we don’t take those,” ask:

• “What screening report are you requiring instead, and what’s the reason you can’t accept the PTSR I provided?”

This does two things: it documents the refusal, and it forces clarity.

Step 3: Decide whether to walk away or push

Sometimes the fastest move is to walk away and apply somewhere else.

If you want to push, keep it simple:

• “I’m happy to provide any additional documents you need. I’m unable to pay for a duplicate screening report if a valid PTSR is accepted.”

Step 4: If you think you’re being treated differently (especially with a voucher)

If you’re applying with Section 8 or another housing voucher and the refusal seems tied to that, don’t guess. Document it.

Read: Section 8 in Colorado: What Landlords Can and Can’t Ask For Under the New Rules.

Step 5: Get help if you need it

If the refusal costs you money, delays your move, or feels discriminatory, consider speaking with a local tenant advocacy group or an attorney.

This article is educational, not legal advice. The safest move is to keep your receipts and communicate in writing.

Quick “PTSR refusal” checklist

If a landlord won’t accept your report, save:

• The listing screenshot (fees, requirements)
• The message thread (email/text)
• The report delivery method you used (PDF upload confirmation, sent email, link)
• Any request for a separate screening fee

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If you’re applying to multiple places, it helps to keep your report and supporting documents in one organized folder so you can resend them quickly.

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