Cuenca Rental-Contract Ordinance Could Go To Debate In About 15 Days

Cuenca’s proposed rental-contract ordinance is expected to move back onto the agenda in about 15 days.

The proposal would require people renting real estate, rooms, apartments, buildings, commercial premises, and other spaces to generate a rental contract and register it with Avalúos y Catastros at the Municipality.

For landlords, tenants, and anyone renting informally, this is one to watch.

What The Ordinance Would Do

The registration cost is currently expected to be $3 per contract.

The documents listed for registration include:

• A copy of the rental contract
• Copies of cedulas
• Voting certificates for tenants

The stated purpose is to create a rental cadaster showing who is renting in Cuenca neighborhoods. That information is being framed as useful to the Judicial Police on security issues.

Why Expats Should Care

The proposal also includes fines from 5% to 10% of the unified basic salary, although the council member behind the proposal said the interest is not to fine or sanction people, but to build a cadaster that helps neighborhoods look after themselves.

The practical question is how this would affect short-term rooms, informal rentals, shared housing, and owners who have been operating with handshake agreements.

For now, it is not yet a finished rule. It is a proposal expected to return for debate.