Renting in Colombia Without a Co-Signer

You can rent in Colombia without a co-signer (fiador or codeudor). The housing law does not require one. A co-signer is the landlord's choice. It is not a legal condition. Bogotá's housing secretariat said so in a legal opinion in July 2026. This guide calls it the Bogotá opinion. The law does restrict cash deposits. This guide explains what the law says. It also explains what members of expat groups report doing instead. It ends with what to ask before you pay.

What the law says

The housing law is Ley 820 de 2003. It governs urban housing leases. A lease can be verbal or written (art. 3). The full rules on rent increases, notices and ending a lease are in our guide to the housing lease law from the landlord side. The same articles protect a tenant.

The key rule for a tenant without a co-signer is art. 16. A residential lease may not demand cash deposits or other "real guarantees" (cauciones reales) to secure what the tenant owes. The same article says a guarantee may not be arranged indirectly. It may not go through another person. It may not sit in a separate document. It may not have a different name.

Two points follow from the official text and the Bogotá opinion. First, the opinion states that the law does not require a co-signer to sign a lease. The landlord may ask for one or not. Second, the law gives the local authority the power to fine a landlord who breaks the rules on illegal deposits. The fine is up to 100 monthly minimum wages (art. 33 and art. 34). The opinion adds that this holds even if the tenant offered the guarantee and the document was notarized. The Bogotá opinion is guidance from one city's office. It is not binding. It covers Bogotá only. A lawyer can tell you how the local mayor's office treats it where you plan to live.

The legal "deposit" that does exist

Art. 15 lets a landlord require a guarantee for the utility companies when the tenant pays the utilities. The guarantee has a cap of about two billing periods of certain charges. A money deposit is held for the utility company, not the landlord. The decree that implements art. 15 (Decreto 3130 de 2003, now compiled in Decreto 1077 de 2015) says a money deposit, with its returns, belongs to the person who made it. That person gets it back when the lease ends (art. 4). The Bogotá opinion (no. 2-2026-48064, Bogotá Housing Department) has the full text. The decree lists these guarantees: a money deposit, a guarantee from a bank or trust company, an insurance policy and a co-signer (art. 3).

What about the rental insurance policy?

A real estate agency (inmobiliaria) may ask for a rental insurance policy (póliza de arrendamiento). The agency may ask for it instead of a co-signer or on top of one. The Bogotá opinion says the law does not tie the policy to a co-signer. It also says each insurer sets its own internal rules. So the questions are practical. Which insurers does the agency work with? Which documents does each insurer ask for? Do they accept income earned abroad? Answers differ by insurer. Ask for the requirements in writing.

What residents report

Reports from Colombia expat Facebook groups, October 2026; individual experiences, not official figures.

Art. 16 is quoted above. A lawyer can answer whether a prepayment, or money held until move-out, counts as a guarantee under art. 16.

Members describe three routes when an agency's co-signer or rental insurance policy is out of reach:

Route	What members report
Renting directly from an owner	Members often call this the easiest route. They report that owners ask for about 1 to 2 months' deposit in practice.
Prepaying rent	Members report prepaying about 6 months of rent. In one case, a member prepaid a full year. In some cases a CDT (a bank term deposit) holds the money, and the CDT is released at move-out.
A paid co-signer service	Members say these services advertise in the groups. They charge about half of one month's rent, paid after signing.

Several members report that agency insurers turned down applications that relied on foreign income. This happened even when the applicant offered a Colombian co-signer. Others report that landlords accept proof of income from abroad inconsistently from one landlord to the next.

On prices, members report these approximate monthly figures for furnished places in Medellín. Studios in Laureles cost from about 2,500,000 Colombian pesos (COP). Places along the tram line cost near 1,900,000 COP. Coliving rooms cost near 1,600,000 COP. Family rentals in Bello cost under 1,000,000 COP. Other members mention paying around US$700 in Sabaneta. Some members advise a week in a short stay first. They also advise walking the neighborhoods before you commit. Members disagree on deposits. Some quote the law as saying deposits are illegal. Others say nearly every landlord asks for one anyway. A lawyer can also explain how the rule is enforced locally.

Questions to ask before paying

1. Ask who owns the apartment.
2. Ask if the person who signs is the owner or an authorized representative. A land-title record (certificado de tradición y libertad) shows the owner. See how to read one.
3. Ask if any payment is called a deposit, reservation, "guarantee" or advance.
4. Under art. 16, ask in which document and under what name the payment is recorded, and when it is returned.
5. Check that the lease states the term, the rent, who pays utilities and the address for notices. Art. 3 and art. 12 list these items.
6. Ask for a copy with original signatures. For written leases, the landlord must supply one within 10 days (art. 8).
7. Ask for a written receipt for each payment. The receipt shows the date, the amount and the period. Art. 11 requires the landlord to issue it.
8. Ask if the building is a condominium (propiedad horizontal). The landlord must give you a copy of its rules. The monthly fee works as explained in our building fee guide.
9. If an agency requires a rental insurance policy, ask which insurers it uses and which documents each needs. Ask for the answer in writing, including how the insurer treats foreign income.
10. If you cannot meet the landlord, ask who hands over the keys and when. Members commonly advise not to pay for an apartment they have not seen. This is a report, not a rule.

If the landlord refuses payment or a dispute starts

Art. 10 sets a procedure for a tenant to pay by bank consignment when the landlord refuses to accept rent. The tenant pays within five business days of the due date. The tenant gives notice by authorized postal service. Art. 33 gives local authorities (the mayor's offices) the role of hearing disputes over illegal deposits and over missing lease copies. The office that handles a case depends on the municipality.

Related guides: if you decide later to buy instead of rent, see buying property step by step. For what other expats say they wish they had known, see what Medellín expats wish they knew. For visa basics, see Colombian visas in plain English. Short stays rented to tourists fall under separate tourism rules. See the guide to the national tourism registry (RNT).

This guide is educational, not legal advice. Every lease is different. Confirm your own case with a Colombian lawyer, and for documents tied to your visa, a licensed immigration adviser.

Frequently asked questions

Can I rent in Colombia without a co-signer?

Yes. A Bogotá housing secretariat opinion (July 2026) states that the law does not require a co-signer. The landlord decides whether to ask for one. Members report three common workarounds: renting direct from an owner, prepaying rent and using a paid co-signer service.

Is it legal for a landlord to ask for a deposit?

The housing law (art. 16) says a residential lease cannot require cash deposits or other real guarantees. Members report that many landlords ask anyway. A guarantee for utility bills under art. 15 is a separate item with a cap.

Do I need a rental insurance policy?

Not by law, according to the Bogotá opinion. Insurers set their own rules. An agency may require a policy. Ask which insurers the agency uses and which documents each needs.

What should a lease include?

Art. 3 lists the names and IDs of the parties, the property, the price and payment method, services, the term and who pays utilities. Art. 12 adds an address for notices.

Own property in Colombia, or planning to buy? The Colombia Owner Kit (US$79) covers the dates, documents and questions owners face. See what's in it.