Urban housing leasing in Colombia has a clear framework, and knowing it prevents misunderstandings for both owner and tenant. The basic regime is Law 820 of 2003, and this guide summarizes the essentials. It is general information, not legal advice for your case.
The rent is the monthly lease amount. It is freely agreed in the contract within the limits of the law, and an advance payment greater than the norm allows cannot be demanded. It helps for the contract to state clearly what the rent includes and what is paid separately, such as utilities or the admin fee.
The annual rent increase has a cap. For urban housing it cannot exceed 100% of the rise in the Consumer Price Index, the prior calendar year's CPI published by DANE, and it applies only after the contract has been in force for a year. It is a point worth reviewing each year.
Guarantees give the contract security without large deposits. In Colombia, lease insurance, a co-signer and other forms of backing evaluated by tenant screening are common. Which to use depends on the tenant's profile and the agreement between the parties.
Each party has duties. In general terms, the owner must hand over the property in good condition and answer for necessary repairs; the tenant must pay the rent and the utilities in their charge, care for the property and use it as agreed. The admin fee under horizontal property is also governed by Law 675 of 2001.
Termination follows grounds and deadlines defined by law, which differ depending on who ends it and why. That is why it is worth reading the full contract before signing and keeping evidence of payments and communications. At Andavo we manage under a mandate and use electronic signatures valid in Colombia under Law 527 of 1999, so that everything is clear and compliant.