Requirement to have Un Tomador y Un Coduedor to Rent an Apartment

NicolasVasquez New member

Member since 04 January 2024

NicolasVasquezNew member29 December 2025 20:42:14

Hello,

I found a cute apartment that I love by searching Finca Raiz and then connecting with the real estate agency that listed it. I went to view the apartment today with my friend who is a local Colombian citizen and a business owner.聽 I am being told that in order for me to rent the apartment I need "un tomador y un coduedor" which I understand to mean the requestor (the person whose name will be on the lease, and a co-debtor - someone who would cover the debt if I fail to pay the rent). Okay. So, apparently the tomador needs to already own some property in Colombia and have at least a 3-month history of banking, which seems like an insane requirement to me (how can anyone rent an apartment every if the pre-requisite is to already own a property). I have someone who is a Colombian business owner who is willing to be the co-debtor, but how on Earth am I supposed to find a tomador? I arrived only weeks ago and I'm still waiting on my *physical* cedula card, and the banks have refused to allow me to open an account until I have a physical cedula card.聽 I have offered to pay in advance - cash - for a full year of renting the property, and the realtor said she would discuss that with the property owner, but I haven't heard any response to that specific offer. I'm a person who wants solutions, but it seems like a mountain of bureaucracy that I have to overcome. How do people deal with this?

mtbe Contributor

Member since 24 February 2015

mtbeContributor29 December 2025 21:02:25

194

Yep.聽 Welcome to Colombia.

In lieu of a 'fiador' or 'tomador', there are insurance companies that have policies that cover this.聽 I believe SURA is one, but I'm not sure.聽 Haven't used it, so am unsure of the costs.

nico peligro Serial expat

Member since 18 September 2020

nico peligroSerial expat29 December 2025 21:56:47

918

@NicolasVasquez

Welcome to Colombia. The fun is only beginning. Consider yourself lucky to even get a Viisa.

You should do what everyone else does and rent an AIRBNB until you get your cedula and take your time looking around聽 for an apartment and try and contact the owners directly.

Your friend should be able to help you with that.

You seem to be in a rush and puttting the cart way before the horse. Slowdown, Colombia wont speed up or change their bureucracy to suit your needs.

If you can afford to pay 12 months, you can afford to pay AIRBNB for a couple of months

ChineduOpara Serial expat

Member since 08 August 2021

ChineduOparaSerial expat30 December 2025 14:18:55

414

@NicolasVasquez

Stick with AirBnB for now, then take your time to look for an apartment. It won't be easy. Have a Spanish-fluent local do the search for you, so as to reduce the risk of being gringo-priced.

I wish you had spoken to us (or other seasoned expats) before making the move... you'd have had the right expectations and maybe saved some money and stress.

<rant>

Renting an apartment in Colombia is one of the most irrationally and seemingly-needlessly difficult things that you'll ever do in your life as a traveler/expat. Don't be surprised if you fail, that's one of the sad things about Colombia... you can bring your resources, hopes, dreams, money... and do everything 100% right according to what you were told by Colombians themselves... and you'll likely still fail. The needless ("artificial") challenges in renting an apartment is just ONE of the various symptoms. It's a country that isn't quite "ready" to join the modern world... it's no doubt a GREAT place to come and PLAY, but not to STAY. And it's one reason that I and many other serious-minded expats I know are simply bailing out of the country, at least for now.

</rant>

But good luck in your apartment search, and please be safe ("no dar papaya").

El Jer Member

Member since 04 June 2015

El JerMember30 December 2025 16:57:10

And to add to the pain of renting in Colombia, it'd take a miracle to get your deposit back at the end of your tenancy. Sometime you'll get lucky and get some of it back but in general in Colombia, a deposit is considered a donation to the landlord.

nico peligro Serial expat

Member since 18 September 2020

nico peligroSerial expat31 December 2025 13:04:39

918

@El Jer

I second that. I even had a lady in Bucaramanga try to get more than the deposit, trying to charge me for stuff that was obviously were and tear. I told her "take me to court"

But the good thing about Bucaramanga is (or was) , in the past you could easily find agencies who would rent to you without fiadores. Dont know if it is the same now

South American Voyager Contributor

Member since 11 January 2022

South American VoyagerContributor01 January 2026 15:27:21

134

Well just know that the hassle of getting your rental deposit back is not limited to us gringo expats, as I have extensive first hand experience over the past 15 years of Colombian friends that experience the same.

ChineduOpara Serial expat

Member since 08 August 2021

ChineduOparaSerial expat03 January 2026 19:59:03

414

Well just know that the hassle of getting your rental deposit back is not limited to us gringo expats, as I have extensive first hand experience over the past 15 years of Colombian friends that experience the same. - @South American Voyager

It's a pattern. It's part of that "criminal mindset" that exists here, in both social AND business settings.