Short-Term Tourism Accommodation Contract Colombia (Contrato de Turismo y Alojamiento)

The Short-Term Tourism Accommodation Contract in Colombia is the legal agreement by which the owner or administrator of a property (host) makes available to one or more persons (guests) a furnished dwelling, apartment, farm (finca), or room for tourist or vacation use for a short period (generally between one and thirty days), in exchange for payment of a nightly or per-period rate, without constituting an urban housing lease regulated by Ley 820 de 2003. The distinction between short-term tourist rental and urban housing lease is fundamental in Colombia, as it determines the applicable legal regime: if the contract qualifies as a tourist rental, the owner has greater flexibility to set rates, require deposits, and establish cancellation conditions; if the contract instead constitutes an urban housing lease, the tenant protection rules of Ley 820 de 2003 apply (limits on rent increases, three-month notice for non-renewal, maximum one-month deposit).

The regulatory framework for tourist rentals in Colombia combines tourism and lease regulations. Ley 300 de 1996 (Ley General de Turismo, modified by Ley 1558 de 2012) establishes the principles of tourism in Colombia and defines tourism service providers, including lodging and accommodation establishments that must register in the Registro Nacional de Turismo (RNT) administered by the Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo (MinCIT). Decreto 2076 de 1992 (Regulation of lodging and accommodation establishments) classifies types of accommodation establishments (hotels, apart-hotels, hostels, tourist inns, tourist dwellings) and establishes operating requirements for each category. Resolución 3657 de 2014 of the MinCIT specifically regulates tourist dwellings and apartments offered through digital platforms (Airbnb, VRBO, Booking, among others).

Ley 820 de 2003 is relevant because Article 2 defines the urban housing lease contract as one where the property is used for habitation by the tenant and their family, establishing a minimum one-year term if the tenant meets their obligations. For tourist rentals to be excluded from Ley 820 de 2003, the contract must make clear that the property is used exclusively for temporary tourist or vacation purposes (not as the guest's habitual residence) and that the term is less than thirty days per stay.

The forms-legal.com Tourism and Accommodation Contract is designed for Colombian property owners who rent farms, apartments, houses, or rooms to domestic and international tourists, directly or through digital platforms, and need a document that clearly establishes the stay conditions, security deposit, internal rules of the property, cancellation policy, and the rights and obligations of host and guest.

The Short-Term Tourism Accommodation Contract in Colombia is necessary in multiple situations ranging from domestic tourism to receiving international visitors. Owners of recreational farms in the Coffee Region (Eje Cafetero), Cundinamarca, Antioquia, or Valle del Cauca who rent their properties during vacation seasons (Semana Santa, November-January, mid-year holidays) to tourist groups need this contract to establish rules for use of the property, maximum number of people, pet policy, restrictions on events and parties, and claims procedure for damages. Similarly, apartment owners in tourist cities (Cartagena, Santa Marta, Medellín, Bogotá, San Andrés) operating on short-term digital rental platforms need this contract as a complement to the platform agreement, to establish additional conditions that platforms do not cover (property condition at check-in, noise restrictions per horizontal property rules, pet policy, liability for forgotten items).

The contract is also useful when the host rents directly without a digital intermediary (through social networks, WhatsApp, or referrals), since in these cases no other document protects either party. Formalizing the agreement in writing protects the host against guest claims for conditions not offered, and the guest against improper charges for pre-existing damage. Any host renting more than three properties simultaneously or habitually should verify the RNT registration obligation with the MinCIT.

The Short-Term Tourism Accommodation Contract in Colombia must contain the following elements to be operationally effective and clearly distinguished from an urban housing lease:

**Identification of parties.** Full name of the host (property owner or authorized administrator), national ID or NIT, domicile, and Registro Nacional de Turismo (RNT) number if the host is required to register as a tourism service provider under Resolución 3657 de 2014. Full name of the primary guest, identification document (national ID for nationals, passport for foreigners), contact phone, and email.

**Property identification and capacity.** Exact address of the property, municipality or village, general description (number of bedrooms, bathrooms, common areas, pool, BBQ area, parking, etc.), maximum authorized occupancy, and condition of the property at check-in (inventory of furniture and appliances).

**Stay dates.** Check-in date and time, check-out date and time, total number of nights, and number of people (adults and minors) who will occupy the property. Indicate whether visits by persons not registered in the contract are permitted.

**Rate and payment method.** Total stay rate in Colombian pesos (COP), broken down per night if the period has different seasonal prices. Payment method (bank transfer, credit card, cash, digital platform). Advance deposit or full payment at reservation time and balance at check-in. Article 8 of Ley 300 de 1996 establishes the tourist consumer's right to receive clear and accurate information about prices and rates before contracting.

**Security deposit.** Amount of the security deposit (separate from the accommodation rate), intended to cover possible damage to the property or inventory during the stay. Deposit refund conditions (property review timeline after check-out, generally 24 to 72 hours, and refund timeline if no damage). Procedure for total or partial deposit retention if damage is detected: description, photographs, and repair estimate.

**Internal rules of the property.** Check-in and check-out hours, noise policy (especially in horizontal properties with rules restricting nighttime noise per Decreto 948 de 1995), pet policy, restrictions on events and parties (whether organizing events with additional unregistered persons is permitted or prohibited), smoking policy, waste management, pool use (hours, safety rules), and access restrictions to property areas reserved for the host.

**Cancellation policy.** Conditions under which the guest may cancel the reservation and receive a full, partial, or no refund of the advance payment, based on time before check-in date (for example: cancellation more than 15 days in advance — 100% refund of advance; 7 to 14 days — 50% refund; less than 7 days — no refund). The cancellation policy must be disclosed to the guest before booking per consumer rights rules of the SIC and Ley 300 de 1996.

**Host obligations.** Deliver the property in the offered and clean condition, ensure functioning of public utilities and included appliances, respect the guest's privacy during the stay (host cannot enter without guest authorization except in emergencies), and provide information about property and neighborhood safety rules.

**Guest obligations.** Use the property in accordance with internal rules, care for the inventory of furniture and appliances, immediately report any accidental damage to the host, not smoke in unauthorized areas, respect the maximum property capacity, and return the property in the condition it was delivered at check-out.

**Liability for damages.** Rules on who is responsible for property damage during the stay (guest is responsible for damage caused by themselves or their companions), and the host's liability limit for the guest's valuables lost or damaged on the property (host is not responsible for jewelry, cash, or high-value items not declared at the start of the stay). forms-legal.com provides this Tourism and Accommodation Contract for Colombian hosts renting vacation properties under Ley 300 de 1996 and Ley 1558 de 2012.