If I rent a house or apartment in Mexico, do I need to hire an attorney?

If you’re going to rent a house or apartment in Mexico, you can certainly hire an attorney, but I didn’t. I got a copy of the contract and we went through a translated version of it.  It was very straightforward and I did have a real estate agent involved.
 
I had a local friend of ours look at the place.  Once they said it was OK, we gave the landlord a deposit and signed the contract.  We did it all electronically. 
 
We had what you may...

If you’re going to rent a house or apartment in Mexico, you can certainly hire an attorney, but I didn’t. I got a copy of the contract and we went through a translated version of it.  It was very straightforward and I did have a real estate agent involved.
 
I had a local friend of ours look at the place.  Once they said it was OK, we gave the landlord a deposit and signed the contract.  We did it all electronically. 
 
We had what you may loosely consider a real estate agent help us with the rental.  They have rental listings there as well, so the owner paid the real estate agent for their services. You don’t need a real estate license to act as a rental buyer’s agent in Mexico so anybody and their brother can rent you a place. They try to get involved to “help” you.

 

(Apartments for rent on hillside above the beach in Playa de Los Muertos in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, pictured.)

You don't need to hire an attorney when you rent a house or apartment in Mexico, but it wouldn't hurt to have the rental contract signed in front of an attorney, better if it's a "notario público" (notary public). A notario público in Mexico is a lawyer who deals with land and real property buying and selling or renting. The notario público will make sure that the contract is valid. If there's any problem down the line, he'll back it up and be there...

You don't need to hire an attorney when you rent a house or apartment in Mexico, but it wouldn't hurt to have the rental contract signed in front of an attorney, better if it's a "notario público" (notary public). A notario público in Mexico is a lawyer who deals with land and real property buying and selling or renting. The notario público will make sure that the contract is valid. If there's any problem down the line, he'll back it up and be there to assist you. 

 

However, if you're renting from somebody who has a good reputation, you don't have to sign the contract in front of a notario público and the contract signing can just be between the landlord and renter.

 

(Bedroom at Hotel Perico, Lake Chapala, Mexico, pictured.)