Renting homes in Antigua, Guatemala

This Blog is designed to assist the newcomer to La Antigua on how to go about renting a new home or apartment in the beautiful resort town of Antigua, Guatemala.  These 10 points will offer you the assistance of our expertise of years of assisting other individuals in the same steps you are about to take yourself.  Always remember, a qualified lawyer will save you much discomfort in your living abroad in Guatemala; Ask around the community who the local 'foreigners' wish to work with.

No idea of what is required when renting a house/apartment in Antigua? Below are some tips that you could follow to go thru this process the best way possible.


Define what you are looking for: Specify what you want in a House/Apartment. Narrow down details like number of rooms, location, price range, if you need furniture so we can provide you with exactly what you are looking for.

Get your documents in order: For most of the mid/long term rentals, a contract is required; so it is important to have a few things ready like a photocopy of your passport/cedula, a local bank account, and perhaps references.

Is a Deposit needed for renting? In most cases a deposit is needed for renting here in Antigua and surroundings. The deposit is the same amount as the first month rental fee; it will be given back at the end of the contract, so please take care of your house to avoid any withholding fee on the deposit.

Take your time: Spend time examining during your tour. Be sure to check that the hot water works, the lights, the cable, the neighborhood, leakages, and so on.

Are utilities included? Utilities are another cost that people often forget to work into their budgets. Don’t hesitate to ask what the extra costs are; electricity, gas for the stove, bottled water, as most of the landlords don’t include these utilities in their rental fee.

Get everything in writing: To avoid disputes or misunderstandings with your landlord, get everything in writing. Keep copies of any correspondence and follow up an oral agreement with a letter, setting out your understandings. For example, if you ask your landlord to make repairs, put your request in writing and keep a copy for yourself. If the landlord agrees orally, send a letter confirming this.

Breaking a lease: Remember that once the lease is signed, it is a legal document for a fixed amount of time and it can be very expensive to change or 'break' a lease. At worse it will cost you one months rent. But sometimes things happen that are beyond your control and a lease may have to be broken. Some landlords will negotiate a broken lease if given sufficient notice of departure.

Services nearby: find out whether schools, hospitals, and so on are close by and ensure that transportation to your place of work is available.

Do you have any pet with you? Advise your rental agent that you have a pet with you, because that is an important detail that they have to know, so the search is more accurate, and so there’s no problem when you move in.

Remember that extra cash you put up at the beginning of your lease? If you want to see that rental deposit again, make sure you leave your place in the same or better condition when you move out.