Renting Property in Colombia

APEX LABS · Colombia Legal Intelligence Series · Guide 09

Classify the lease correctly. Document everything.

An educational reference on residential and commercial leases in Colombia: the legal framework, deposits and guarantees, rent increases, renewals, termination and how to prevent expensive disputes. It explains why a family's apartment and a business's premises follow different rules.

What's inside

• Residential versus commercial leases and which legal framework applies to each
• Residential leases under Law 820 of 2003: the written contract, rent limits and annual increases, and why general cash deposits are restricted
• Landlord and tenant obligations, repairs, inspection and handover
• Residential renewals and termination, with a notice calendar
• Commercial leases: negotiation points, fit-out, and statutory renewal rights under the Commercial Code (Articles 518–524)
• Deposits, guarantees and financial exposure in commercial leases
• Common disputes and how to prevent them; property due diligence before signing
• Special considerations for foreigners and international companies
• The first 30 days of a new lease, practical scenarios and decision trees
• A document-retention table, a pre-signing self-check and a residential versus commercial comparison

Who it's for

Foreign residents, property owners, investors, landlords, tenants and companies establishing a presence in Colombia.

What you receive

A 21-page digital guide (PDF), Research Edition, October 2026.

Premium digital resource. Delivered digitally after purchase. All sales final.

Educational and informational purposes only. Not individualized legal advice, and it creates no attorney-client relationship. Colombian laws, regulations and interpretations change; have a qualified Colombian lawyer review the facts and documents of any significant lease before signing, serving notice, withholding payment or pursuing possession.