Contrato de Arrendamiento (Lease Agreement)kohn-TRAH-toh deh ah-rehn-dah-mee-EHN-toh
A contrato de arrendamiento (lease agreement) is a contract where one party grants temporary use or enjoyment of a property and the other pays a certain price, as defined in Federal Civil Code Article 2398.
By Daniel Ortega · Last reviewed 9 November 2026
How it works
In Mexico, a lease agreement must be in writing under Federal Civil Code Article 2406; if not, the landlord is liable. The contract establishes rent amount, payment date, term (fixed or indefinite), deposit (typically one to two months of rent), and obligations. For residential properties, most states including Quintana Roo follow federal law with no mandatory minimum term, though Mexico City requires at least one year for residential. Security deposits range from one month for unfurnished homes to two months for furnished or high-value properties; courts consider deposits above two months abusive without documentation. The contract does not require notarization to be valid. Landlords collecting rent must issue CFDI invoices; non-resident foreign owners pay 25 percent ISR (income tax) on gross rental income with no deductions, while IVA (16 percent) applies to furnished short-term rentals but not to long-term unfurnished residential rentals. Registration at the state property registry is optional but advisable for legal enforceability.