Last Updated on February 14, 2025
Renting a house or apartment in Bolivia involves specific steps and potential risks, much like anywhere else. The best approach depends significantly on the duration of your stay. However, one consistent advantage is that rental costs in Bolivia are generally much lower than in many other countries.
For short-term rentals in Bolivia, Airbnb is by far the best option. For long-term rentals, you have two primary choices: 1) use Airbnb, or 2) follow the traditional route, which involves searching for rentals through realtors like ReMax or Century 21 and formalizing the agreement with a public deed.
In the following sections, we’ll discuss how to rent a house or apartment in Bolivia using these two methods: Airbnb and the traditional approach involving lawyers and a public deed. We’ll also explore the pros and cons of each option, considering various factors. We are Bolivian real estate experts (you can visit our Bolivian real estate website) and we assist many Bolivians with their real estate projects.
The Two Types of House Rentals in Bolivia
A) Short-Term House Rentals
Most foreigners coming to Bolivia plan to rent for short periods, typically a few days or weeks. If this describes your situation, you’re best served *by simply using Airbnb*. This option is significantly less expensive, safer, and more convenient. Currently, Airbnb offers around 5,000 rental properties in Bolivia.
If you opt for the traditional method – renting through a realtor, signing a rental contract, and formalizing it with a public deed – *you’ll invest considerable time and resources*. Furthermore, you’ll face the risk of encountering scammers who might exploit your foreign status with inflated prices or hidden clauses in the rental agreement. You’ll also be responsible for furnishing the property and arranging for basic utilities.
From our perspective, if you’re renting a house or apartment in Bolivia for a short duration (days or weeks), Airbnb is your only practical option, offering lower costs, greater safety, and significantly more convenience.
It’s highly unlikely you’ll find an owner willing to rent their property for just a few days or weeks through the traditional process, which involves engaging a realtor, signing a formal contract, and executing a public deed. Bolivians typically expect to rent their properties for extended periods, usually years or at least six months.
B) Long-Term House Rentals
Conversely, if you’re coming to Bolivia for an extended stay, lasting at least several months, you have two options:
- Using Airbnb (again).
- Seeking assistance from ReMax or Century 21.
For long-term rentals, the longer your intended stay, the more cost-effective the traditional method becomes – that is, working with realtor companies like ReMax and Century 21. You can find high-quality houses or apartments comparable to those in developed countries, typically ranging from $400 to $1,000 per month.
Keep in mind that when you rent a house in Bolivia through the traditional method, using realtors like ReMax or Century 21, you’ll receive only the living space itself. You’ll be responsible for purchasing all furniture, potentially arranging for basic utilities, and setting up the necessary amenities for the house or apartment.
When opting for the traditional rental method in Bolivia, you must be vigilant about potential scams, unethical individuals, and lawyers who might attempt to exploit your status as a foreigner. You’ll also need to engage a lawyer, handle paperwork, and verify the landlord’s legitimacy.
Steps to Rent a House in Bolivia for a Short Term
As mentioned, we believe that for foreigners, the best option for renting property in Bolivia is through Airbnb. You’ll receive a similar quality of service to what you’d expect in developed countries.
Accordingly, we’ll outline the steps for renting an apartment or house in Bolivia via Airbnb:
- Create an Airbnb account by downloading the app here:
- Use the app’s filters and options to search for the house or apartment that best suits your needs.
- Refine your search by narrowing down the available listings based on your requirements.
- You’ll find the most favorable deals in the $20 to $60 per day range. You’ll also notice that most available units in Bolivia are standalone apartments or houses.
- Once you’ve identified the right house or apartment, simply book it, pay the bill, and you’re all set.
Airbnb currently has thousands of active listings for Bolivia, including many highly-rated rentals. Take your time to find the best possible deal through the app.
Even if you’re planning to rent for just a few months, Airbnb remains an excellent option, as the cost is comparable to renting through the traditional method. You can find excellent two-bedroom units on Airbnb for around $600 per month. Through the traditional method, you’d find a similar two-bedroom unit, *unfurnished and without amenities, for approximately $400* – only slightly less expensive.
Steps to Rent a House in Bolivia for a Long Term
You might have various reasons for wanting to rent an apartment or house in Bolivia through the traditional method. For instance, if you’re planning an extended stay, perhaps longer than six months or a year, you might find it more convenient and cost-effective to rent directly through realtor companies or independently.
You’ll discover that this option has both advantages and disadvantages. Renting through the traditional method is less expensive than Airbnb, *offering savings of 20% to 40%*. However, you’ll need to purchase all furniture and arrange for the necessary amenities in your rented property (you can resell these items later for a residual value). You’ll also have a wider selection of properties to choose from, but you’ll need to handle additional paperwork and face a higher risk of encountering scammers.
Carefully consider these factors when deciding whether to rent through Airbnb, realtor companies like ReMax or Century 21, or independently by searching newspapers, local real estate listings, etc.
1) Pre-Planning and Preparation
If you choose the traditional rental route, you’ll need to complete the following preparatory and pre-planning steps:
- Prepare the necessary documents. You’ll need a valid passport and tourist visa if you’re staying in Bolivia for less than three months, or the duration specified on your visa. If you intend to become a temporary or permanent resident, you’ll need to obtain a foreigner ID card issued by the Bolivian government.
- Engage a competent lawyer to assist with the rental paperwork (lawyers in Bolivia generally have a poor reputation; many attempt to deceive or even scam their clients, especially foreigners – exercise extreme caution!). We strongly recommend seeking lawyer referrals from your country’s embassy or requesting them from major banks in Bolivia.
- Obtain an “Informe Rapido” (Quick Report) summary sheet containing the house’s information. This document provides essential details about the property and its owner, making it widely used in Bolivian real estate transactions. It allows you to verify if the house belongs to the purported owner, if the owner is providing accurate personal information, and if the house has any legal issues, lawsuits, or existing mortgages. Use this document to assess the owner’s honesty and ensure the house is free of undisclosed legal problems. Obtain it with your lawyer’s assistance; it will cost between $15 and $20. Our dedicated Spanish guide provides comprehensive information on this document (Translated: Link).
Finding a trustworthy lawyer to assist with the rental paperwork is crucial. The lawyer must be ethical, professional, and honest. A reputable lawyer will charge between $50 and $100 for all services related to the rental process. You should also obtain an “Informe Rapido” report independently, at the outset of the process, to confirm that the property is free of any issues.
2) Locating the Apartment or House You Intend to Rent
You can find rental properties through the traditional method by searching the listings of the two internationally recognized realtor companies in Bolivia: ReMax and Century 21. Combined, these companies have around 3,000 property listings available for rent and sale within the country.
ReMax Bolivia’s rental property listings can be found here:
Century 21 Bolivia’s rental property listings can be found here:
We strongly recommend searching exclusively within these two companies to find your rental property in Bolivia. This is because local realtors, independent real estate agents, newspapers, and online directories are often unreliable and may harbor scammers. For more information, consult our dedicated guide that covers this step in detail.
We have a comprehensive guide on finding a suitable rental property in Bolivia, available here: How to find a house for rent in Bolivia? All the steps and methods.
3) Drafting and Signing the Contract
After negotiating the rental amount and other relevant terms, you and the homeowner will need to sign a rental contract. *While Bolivian law permits private contracts*, we strongly recommend executing a “public deed” for the rental instead.
A public deed provides significantly greater legal protection against potential future disputes. As you may know, a public deed is an official public registration and legal proof of the agreement between the landlord and tenant. You’ll also benefit from having a notary public review the agreement.
Therefore, instead of signing a private contract with the landlord, *always* insist on and require the use of a public deed for the rental. This ensures that all legal aspects of the agreement are clear and legally documented.
4) Formalizing the Contract as a Public Deed with a Notary Public
Next, you’ll take the contract to your legal assistant to prepare the “rental minute” (a preliminary document that bridges a standard contract and a public deed). Once the minute is completed, you must present it to a notary public (there are hundreds throughout Bolivia). This professional will review the agreement between you and the landlord and then convert the minute into a public deed.
When at the notary public’s office, always request a thorough review of the agreement between both parties, as well as an assessment of the landlord’s personal information and the status of the property you’re renting. A notary public in Bolivia *is also a specialized lawyer* who will provide an additional layer of legal protection for your rental agreement.
5) Finalizing the Rental Transaction
Once the paperwork for creating the public deed is complete, everything is finalized, and you can move into your new rented home in Bolivia.
Remember that all landlords in Bolivia are required to pay a rental tax each month on their rental income. As the tenant, you are never responsible for paying this tax; the landlord is solely responsible.
How Do House Rentals Work in Bolivia?
Foreigners in Bolivia have the same rights as native Bolivians. Therefore, you’ll follow essentially the same procedures for creating rental contracts and executing public deeds as a Bolivian citizen. To establish a house rental contract, you have three options:
- Making a verbal agreement without any written contract (strongly discouraged! This carries excessive risk for both tenants and landlords).
- Creating an agreement and signing a private home rental contract (not recommended, as this lacks full legal guarantees).
- Creating an agreement and executing a public deed for the house rental (recommended, as this provides the maximum legal protection in Bolivia).
Governing Laws and Regulations
All regulations concerning house rental agreements in Bolivia are found within the Civil Code (Translated: Link), which is a compilation of laws and regulations governing civilian conduct and transactions. Real estate rentals are specifically addressed in Articles 685 through 712 of this code.
Furthermore, Bolivia’s Immigration Law (Translated: Link) affirms that foreigners possess the same rights as Bolivians in all areas and aspects of life affecting citizens, including real estate, with certain specific exceptions regarding the purchase of rural land.
Additional Details
There’s no stipulated minimum duration for a house rental agreement; homes can be rented for even a single day, and this is permitted.
How Much Does It Cost to Rent an Apartment or House in Bolivia?
You’ll typically find that a one-bedroom unit in an exclusive neighborhood of a major Bolivian city will cost between $200 and $400 per month to rent. With Airbnb, it will be around $300 per month.
A two-bedroom unit will cost between $300 and $500 per month to rent. With Airbnb, the cost will be around $500 per month.
A three-bedroom or four-bedroom unit will cost between $400 and $800 to rent. With Airbnb, it will be approximately $700 per month.
These examples are for apartments and houses located in the best neighborhoods of Bolivian cities, where you’ll experience a similar lifestyle to that of a suburb in a developed country. However, in standard and lower-income Bolivian neighborhoods, rental prices can be 50% lower or even less.
Precautions to Take When Renting Real Estate in Bolivia
Throughout this article, we’ve highlighted several precautions to help you avoid potential scams and unethical individuals during your house rental process in Bolivia. We’ll summarize these precautions here. Consider all of these precautions and implement as many as possible.
Keep in mind that these recommendations do not apply to rentals through Airbnb. Instead, they apply to rentals arranged through the traditional method, involving realtors, lawyers, etc.
To mitigate risks and avoid scammers in your Bolivian rental process, take the following steps:
- Engage the most qualified lawyer you can find, and seek referrals for legal professionals from your embassy or major Bolivian banks. You should also hire multiple lawyers independently (at least three) so they can review the rental process and paperwork separately.
- Always execute a public deed, not a private contract, for the rental. A public deed provides significantly greater legal protection against future disputes and lawsuits with the landlord.
- Request a thorough review of the paperwork by the notary public. The notary is a legal professional who will review the paperwork, documents, and rental agreement. Insist on a comprehensive review, including verification of the homeowner’s personal information, the property’s legal status, etc.
- Only engage two recommended realtor companies: ReMax and Century 21. These companies provide reliable services in Bolivia, consistent with their global standards. In contrast, local realtor companies are riskier and often offer inferior services. Conducting the rental process independently, without any assistance, is even riskier.
- Always thoroughly inspect the house, preferably with the assistance of a real estate agent. This is a general precaution applicable anywhere, but in Bolivia, people often fail to disclose hidden problems with the property, which can lead to unpleasant surprises later.
Conclusions:
In this guide on renting a house in Bolivia, you’ve learned that there are two primary approaches. The first is using Airbnb, which is by far the most suitable option for short-term rentals. For long-term rentals, you have two choices: using Airbnb again, or opting for the traditional method, which involves realtors, lawyers, and executing a public deed for the rental.
You’ve also realized that while long-term rentals through the traditional method can save you money (between 20% and 40% compared to Airbnb), you’ll need to acquire all furniture, arrange for utilities, and ensure the property’s functionality. Additionally, you’ll need to handle paperwork with the assistance of lawyers and realtors, which exposes you to some risk of scams or overpriced rentals.
Finally, you’ve learned about precautions to minimize the risks of scams or legal issues with your rental, including: securing the best possible legal assistance, always executing a public deed for the rental, requesting a thorough review of the agreement by the notary, only engaging ReMax and Century 21, and conducting a thorough inspection of the property with the help of a specialist.
We hope this information has been helpful. If you’d like to learn more about finding a house or apartment for rent in Bolivia, please visit our dedicated guide here: How to find houses for rent in Bolivia? All the methods and details.
CasasenBolivia.com, information on living, working, investing, and traveling in Bolivia.
