Renting monthly without an RNT: a guide for Medellín landlords
The 30-day rule in plain words: what counts as tourist housing, what counts as a housing lease, and what to keep in mind to rent monthly, legally.
A guide, not legal advice. It summarises Colombian rules as we understand them in October 2026. For your own case, check with the relevant authority or a professional.
The 30-day rule
- Under 30 days: tourist housing. It needs an RNT, carries IVA, and the building’s rules can ban it (Ley 2068 de 2020, Ley 675 de 2001).
- 30 days or more: an urban housing lease (Ley 820 de 2003). No RNT is needed and the building can’t ban it, though the tenant must follow the building’s rules.
What the lease should include
Ley 820 is public-order law: its protections can’t be waived in the contract. Electronic signatures are valid (Ley 527 de 1999). Listing on Medellín Monthly gives you our lease templates, which are templates, not legal advice.
- Residential wording: landlord, tenant, monthly rent (canon). Not hotel wording.
- A 30-day term, with renewal.
- The 10% booking payment as advance rent for the first month.
- An inventory of furniture and contents as an annex, plus the house rules.
- Consent to the processing of personal data.
No deposit: what the law says
Ley 820 (article 16) doesn’t let landlords demand money or similar guarantees as security on a housing lease. That’s why Medellín Monthly has no deposit and no co-signer: we verify every tenant’s identity, and rent is always paid in advance.
If a tenant won’t leave
Your tenant has tenant rights. Overstaying after the lease ends is a civil matter, resolved through a court process (proceso de restitución), not by the police. Never change the locks or cut the utilities. If there’s a crime (drugs, minors, violence), call the Police (123) straight away.
Foreign tenants and foreign landlords
- Foreign tenants: SIRE reporting to Migración Colombia may apply. Confirm with Migración Colombia.
- Foreign landlords: the tenant pays you directly, into your own Mercado Pago or bank account. You still have your own Colombian tax obligations; check them with an accountant.
Download the full guide
The PDF guide covers what your building’s administration can and can’t do, how to get paid without a deposit, and what to charge in each neighbourhood.
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