Quevedo & Ponce - Noticias Legales
Lease Agreements in Ecuador: Legal Requirements for Formalization and Registration
- June 26th, 2025
- Quevedo & Ponce
In Ecuador, a lease contract is a legal agreement where a landlord grants a tenant the use of a property in exchange for a monthly rent. According to Article 27 of the Tenancy Law, this agreement can be verbal or written. However, if the rent exceeds the unified basic salary, Article 29 mandates that the contract be formalized as a public deed before a notary.
A lease takes effect as soon as there is an agreement on property use and rent, even if it’s not written. Still, formalizing it offers legal protection, prevents abuse, and allows for judicial remedies in case of disputes.
If the rent does not exceed the basic salary, the contract must be registered with the Municipality (Cadastre Office). If it does exceed it, the contract must be registered with both the Property Registry and the Municipality.
Key obligations under the Tenancy Law include:
- Respecting the legal rent limit (Art. 17)
- Registering the contract with the relevant authority (Art. 14)
- Providing the tenant with a minimum 2-year lease term (Art. 28)
What if the contract is not registered?
You will lose the ability to request eviction, your claim will lack legal validity, and the court will require rent documentation. You may also be fined up to six months’ rent.
At Quevedo & Ponce, we assist companies and workers to ensure compliance with legal provisions and protect labor rights. Contact us for advice on this important precedent and its impact on the labor field.
Más Artículos
Lease Agreements in Ecuador: Legal Requirements for Formalization and Registration
In Ecuador, lease agreements can be verbal or written, but the law requires a formal contract before a notary if the monthly rent exceeds the unified basic salary. Knowing these legal conditions is essential to protect both landlords and tenants and avoid legal risks.
Formalización y registro de contratos de arrendamiento en Ecuador: requisitos legales y consecuencias jurídicas
En Ecuador, los contratos de arriendo pueden celebrarse de forma verbal o escrita. Sin embargo, la ley establece requisitos específicos cuando el canon mensual supera el salario básico unificado. Conocer estos lineamientos es clave para garantizar la protección legal tanto del arrendador como del inquilino, evitando conflictos y sanciones
Ecuador and the New Law on Intelligence: Toward a Safer or More Surveilled State?
Ecuador has taken a decisive step by enacting the new Organic Law on Intelligence, which aims to strengthen the State’s capacity to combat organized crime and threats to national sovereignty. However, the legal framework adopted raises serious concerns from a constitutional and human rights perspective.
Ecuador y la Nueva Ley Orgánica de Inteligencia: ¿Hacia un Estado más seguro o más vigilado?
Ecuador ha dado un paso decisivo al promulgar la nueva Ley Orgánica de Inteligencia, cuyo objetivo es fortalecer la capacidad del Estado para enfrentar el crimen organizado y las amenazas a la soberanía nacional. Sin embargo, el marco legal adoptado plantea serias interrogantes desde una perspectiva constitucional y de derechos humanos.
Has your company remedied the grounds for dissolution? you may request its exclusion from the massive resolution and to continue operating legally.
The Companies Act allows to request the exclusion of a company from a massive dissolution resolution if the grounds for dissolution have been remedied and the resolution has not been registered before the Mercantile Registry. This alternative avoids to initiate a reactivation process and enables the company to maintain its legal standing. This article explains the circumstances under which this option may be exercised and the requirements that must be complied.
