Guide
Monthly Furnished Rentals in Medellín: How to Book Direct and What to Check
Booking a furnished month directly with an owner or a local agency is normal in Medellín. Doing it safely comes down to five checks: ownership, contract, deposits, costs and payment.
Key takeaways
- Colombian portals carry furnished monthly units. On October 30, 2026 we found "amoblado" Medellín listings from agencies on both Finca Raíz and Metrocuadrado.
- For a residential lease, Article 16 of Ley 820 de 2003 bars cash deposits. Article 15 allows only a utility guarantee of up to two billing periods.
- Verify the owner before paying. A certificado de tradición y libertad from the Superintendencia de Notariado y Registro cost COP 21,900 when checked.
- Put rent, dates, utilities, administración and a furniture inventory in a signed document. The landlord must give you a signed copy within 10 days.
- Never pay to "hold" a unit you haven't seen or verified. Bogotá's security secretariat flagged that exact pattern in August 2026.
Where to find furnished monthly units
You can book a furnished month in Medellín without an international booking platform. Most direct deals come through one of four channels. Each has a different trust signal you can check.
| Channel | How it works | What you can verify | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finca Raíz | Colombian property portal with Medellín rental listings from agencies and individuals | The advertiser's profile, including whether it is an inmobiliaria | No furnished filter showed on the main Medellín results page when we checked. Search listing text for "amoblado." |
| Metrocuadrado | Colombian property portal; its Medellín rentals page showed more than 10,000 apartments when checked | The advertiser label on each listing | Furnishing isn't a standard field on every listing. Confirm in writing. |
| Inmobiliarias | Local rental agencies that manage units for owners | A landlord registration number, which Ley 820 Article 31 says registered landlords must show in ads | Agency fees and the agency's own guarantee requirements |
| Direct owners | Owners renting one unit, found through portals, referrals or building notices | Ownership through the certificado de tradición y libertad | Pressure to pay before you have verified anything |
On October 30, 2026 we found a Laureles listing on Finca Raíz that opened with "Apartamento amoblado en arriendo," posted by an agency. On Metrocuadrado, an El Poblado listing posted by an inmobiliaria was described as fully furnished and ready to move into. Many other listings we opened did not mention furnishing at all, so never assume.
Under Ley 820 Article 28, anyone whose main business is renting urban housing in a municipality over 15,000 people must register as a landlord. So must anyone signing more than five leases. An inmobiliaria that can't show a registration number is worth a second look. Our guide to reading a Medellín rental listing explains the common Spanish terms.
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Request a furnished rental match Or message us on WhatsAppWhich law covers your stay
The length of your stay and the type of contract decide which rules protect you. Get this right first, because it affects deposits, notice and early exit.
- Under 30 days: Ley 2068 de 2020 defines renting a property for stays under 30 days as vivienda turística, a tourism service. Article 3 of that law requires tourism providers to register in the Registro Nacional de Turismo (RNT) before offering services.
- A month or longer, as a home: Ley 820 de 2003 governs urban residential leases. It defines a lease as one party granting use of a home and the other paying a set price.
Two Ley 820 rules catch monthly renters off guard. Article 5 says a lease with no stated term defaults to one year. Article 6 says a lease renews automatically for the same period if both sides have complied. A clear end date in writing protects both you and the owner.
Some operators describe month-long furnished stays as "hospedaje" (lodging) instead of a lease. If the paperwork uses that label, ask which law applies and why. The answer affects whether Ley 820's deposit rule covers you.
What the contract must say
Ley 820 Article 3 allows verbal leases, but a furnished month booked from abroad needs a written one. The same article lists the minimum points the parties must agree on. Use it as your checklist:
- Names and ID numbers of the owner or agency and of each tenant
- The full address, the unit, and any shared areas, parking or storage included
- Monthly rent in pesos, the due date and the payment method
- Services included and additional services, with prices
- The start date and the end date
- Which party pays each utility
Add three items that matter for furnished units in particular:
- A signed inventory of furniture, appliances, linens and kitchenware, with photos attached.
- A notice address for each party. Ley 820 Article 12 requires one in the contract.
- The early-exit terms. Article 24 lets a tenant end a lease early with three months' written notice and an indemnity of three months' rent. On a short stay that is costly, so match the end date to your real plans.
Furnished deals often bundle extras like cleaning or internet into the price. Ley 820 Article 2 says charges for additional services can't exceed 50% of the rent for the property itself. Ask for a breakdown.
Under Article 8, the landlord must give you a signed copy of a written lease within 10 days. Under Article 11, you are entitled to a written receipt for each payment showing the date, amount and period. For a clause-by-clause review, see what to sign in a Medellín lease.
Deposits and guarantees
Article 16 of Ley 820 says landlords cannot require cash deposits or real guarantees in urban residential leases. It also bars getting around the rule indirectly, through third parties, in separate documents or under another name.
Article 15 is the narrow exception. When the tenant pays utilities, the landlord may require a guarantee for those bills. It can't exceed the charges for two consecutive billing periods.
| Request | Under a residential lease | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Cash "security deposit" | Not allowed | Art. 16 |
| Same deposit renamed (for example "furniture fee," refundable) | Not allowed if it secures your obligations | Art. 16, indirect demands |
| Utility guarantee | Allowed, up to two consecutive billing periods | Art. 15 |
| Rent increase each year | Allowed after 12 months, capped at the prior year's CPI change, with written notice | Art. 20 |
Article 32 gives municipal mayors' offices oversight, and Article 33 lists illegal deposits among the issues they can resolve. Many landlords ask for a co-signer or an insurance-backed guarantee instead. Our explainer on what a landlord can ask for instead of a deposit covers those options.
Utilities and administración
Furnished monthly prices are often quoted "all included," but the words can mean different things. Ask for each line separately.
Utilities (servicios públicos)
Ley 820 Article 9 requires the tenant to pay utilities and common charges as agreed in the contract. If the owner keeps the bills in their name and charges you a flat amount, write the flat amount down. If you pay actual bills, note the meter readings on move-in day.
Administración
Administración is the monthly fee for running the building under Colombia's property law. Ley 675 de 2001 Article 29 makes the owner and the occupant jointly liable for ordinary common expenses. If the owner says administración is included, put that sentence in the contract and ask for the latest paid statement.
Building rules
Each building's reglamento covers moves, guests, pets and noise. Ask for a copy before you sign, and check the rules on moving in, since some buildings require notice to portería.
Move-in inspection checklist
Do this on day one, with the owner or agent present, and photograph everything.
| Area | Check | Record |
|---|---|---|
| Entry and documents | Your name is registered with portería; keys and access cards work | Number of keys and cards received |
| Meters | Electricity, water and gas | Photo of each reading with the date |
| Kitchen | Stove, fridge, microwave, kitchenware count | Any chips, missing items, or appliances that don't work |
| Bathrooms | Hot water, water pressure, drains, signs of damp | Photos of stains or mold |
| Bedrooms and living area | Mattress condition, sofa, curtains, wardrobes | Existing marks or tears |
| Internet | Speed and router location | Screenshot of a speed test |
| Windows and doors | Locks, screens, balcony door | Anything that doesn't close or lock |
| Inventory | Every item on the signed list is present | Both parties sign the checked list |
Ley 820 Article 9 requires you to care for the property and repair damage you cause through misuse. Your move-in photos are your proof of what was already there.
Scam warning signs
In August 2026, Bogotá's Secretaría de Seguridad described a common fake-rental pattern. Scammers post a unit priced well below market, ask for ID documents to "study" the application, and then request half a month's rent to hold it. On move-in day the unit is already rented, belongs to someone else or doesn't exist.
The same pattern can appear anywhere, including Medellín. The secretariat's advice translates directly:
- Distrust prices far below the market.
- Verify the property exists, ideally in person, before handing over money or documents.
- Don't send sensitive personal documents to strangers over social media or messaging apps.
- Pay no advances or deposits without a signed formal contract.
- Don't give in to "only one spot left" pressure.
Verify the owner
- Ask for the property's matrícula inmobiliaria number.
- Go to the Superintendencia de Notariado y Registro's certificate portal. You'll need an account and the registry office for the property.
- Buy the certificado de tradición y libertad. It cost COP 21,900 when checked on October 30, 2026.
- Compare the registered owner with the person or agency you are dealing with. If an agency represents the owner, ask for its authorization.
A real owner or agency will not mind you checking. Someone who refuses to share the matrícula number, or who needs payment "today," is giving you your answer.
Paying from abroad
Once the contract is signed and ownership is verified, set up a reliable way to pay rent in pesos. Wise is one option for sending money to a Colombian bank account. According to its COP transfer guide, checked October 30, 2026:
- A personal recipient needs full name, account number, account type, address, phone number, and ID type and number matching the bank's records.
- Bancolombia recipients must turn on Abono Automático, or the transfer fails. Activation takes 24 hours.
- A recipient's first international payment requires a Declaración de Pago in their bank. Wise says Banco de Bogotá doesn't require it.
- Each transfer is capped at 24,000 USD in COP equivalent.
Keep each transfer confirmation alongside the landlord's receipt. For other methods and their trade-offs, read our guide to paying rent in Medellín from abroad.
Pay rent in pesos from your home account
Wise shows the fee and exchange rate before you send, and pays out to Colombian bank accounts.
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Find a rental matchFAQ
Do Finca Raíz and Metrocuadrado list furnished apartments in Medellín?
Yes. On October 30, 2026 we found Medellín listings on both portals described as amoblado, posted by inmobiliarias. Neither portal's main Medellín results page showed a furnished filter when we checked, so search listing text for amoblado and confirm furnishing with the advertiser.
Is a month-to-month furnished stay covered by Ley 820?
Ley 820 de 2003 governs urban residential leases. Ley 2068 de 2020 treats renting a property for stays under 30 days as vivienda turística, a tourism service. A stay of a month or more under a residential lease generally falls under Ley 820, but the contract's wording matters.
Can the owner ask for a security deposit?
Under Article 16 of Ley 820, a landlord cannot require cash deposits or real guarantees in an urban residential lease, including indirectly or under another name. Article 15 allows a guarantee for utility bills, capped at the charges for two consecutive billing periods.
How do I check that the person renting to me owns the apartment?
Ask for the property's matrícula inmobiliaria, then buy a certificado de tradición y libertad from the Superintendencia de Notariado y Registro's online portal. It cost COP 21,900 when checked on October 30, 2026, and it shows the registered owner and any liens.
Who pays the building's administración fee?
The contract should say. Under Article 29 of Ley 675 de 2001, the owner and the occupant are jointly liable for ordinary common expenses, so get the arrangement in writing and ask for proof the fee is current.
How can I pay a Colombian landlord from abroad?
One option is a transfer that pays out in pesos to a Colombian bank account. Wise's COP guide lists the recipient details required, including an ID number that matches the bank's records, and notes that Bancolombia accounts need Abono Automático turned on.
This is general information, not legal or financial advice. Which law applies depends on your contract and your length of stay. Read the laws on the Senado's official site, and talk to a Colombian lawyer before signing anything you're unsure about.
Sources
- Ley 820 de 2003, Secretaría General del Senado de la República
- Ley 2068 de 2020, Secretaría General del Senado de la República
- Ley 675 de 2001 (Propiedad horizontal), Secretaría General del Senado de la República
- Furnished apartment for rent in Laureles (listing), Finca Raíz
- Apartamentos en arriendo en Medellín (results), Finca Raíz
- Furnished apartment for rent in El Poblado (listing), Metrocuadrado
- Apartamentos en arriendo en Medellín, Metrocuadrado
- Certificado de Tradición y Libertad, Superintendencia de Notariado y Registro
- Certificado de libertad y tradición: así puede sacar el documento, El Heraldo
- Ojo con estafas de falsos arriendos a través de redes sociales en Bogotá, Alcaldía de Bogotá
- Guide to COP transfers, Wise Help Centre
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