Your Expert Guide to Adding a Roommate or Long-Term Guest in Cuenca, Ecuador

As a Cuenca-based housing specialist and lease negotiator, I’ve seen it all. An expat happily settles into a beautiful apartment in El Vergel, only to have a family member decide to visit for three months. Another finds a great friend and wants to split the rent on their Centro Histórico walk-up. These are wonderful life events, but in Ecuador, they are also critical legal moments in your tenancy.

Handling this incorrectly is the single most common way expats find themselves in preventable conflicts with their landlords, facing surprise rent hikes, or even risking eviction. This guide isn't generic advice; it's a strategic blueprint based on years of on-the-ground negotiations. My goal is to protect your security, your finances, and your peace of mind.

Step Zero: Deconstruct Your Lease (Contrato de Arrendamiento)

Before you even think about mentioning a guest to your landlord, you must dissect your lease agreement. This document is the law governing your tenancy.

Occupancy and Subletting Clauses: Scan for the phrases "cláusula de subarriendo" (subletting clause) and clauses addressing ocupantes adicionales (additional occupants). Nearly every professionally drafted lease in Cuenca will either outright prohibit subletting or require explicit written consent from the landlord (arrendador). Ignoring this is a direct breach of contract.
The Unspoken 30-Day Rule: While a lease may not define "long-term guest," the local standard is clear: anyone staying for more than 30 consecutive days is no longer a tourist visitor but an occupant. This is the threshold at which you must notify your landlord.
The Early Termination Penalty Clause: Be aware of the "cláusula de terminación anticipada." If adding a roommate goes wrong and you need to break your lease, this clause dictates the penalty, which is typically a multa (fine) equal to one to two months' rent. Knowing this gives you a clear picture of your financial risk.

Guest vs. Roommate: A Critical Legal and Financial Distinction

In the eyes of a Cuencano landlord, these are not the same thing. Your strategy must reflect that.

The Long-Term Guest (Visitante de Larga Estancia): A non-rent-paying family member or friend. Your responsibility is to inform your landlord as a courtesy and a matter of security. There is generally no legal basis for a rent increase for a guest, as you remain solely responsible for the contract.
The Roommate (Compañero de Piso): An individual who shares rent and living expenses. This fundamentally changes the financial structure of the tenancy and requires a formal modification to your lease. They are not a guest; they are a co-tenant.

The Strategic Approach to Your Landlord

Communication in Ecuador is about relationships and respect. A demanding email is a path to failure. A well-played, respectful conversation followed by formal documentation is the key to success.

Step 1: Prepare Your Case

Know Your Landlord: Is your landlord a local family who values personal connection, or a professional property manager who only deals in contracts? The former may respond better to a face-to-face chat over coffee; the latter will expect a formal email.
Vet Your Roommate: If proposing a roommate, have their information ready. A landlord is well within their rights to ask for the person's name, cédula (or passport number), and perhaps a reference. The more you present a responsible, organized front, the higher your chance of approval.
Anticipate Utility Concerns: Be ready to address the real costs. This is where local knowledge is non-negotiable.
- Hyper-Specific Detail #1: Acknowledge the electricity bill (planillla de luz). An extra person means more hot water and appliance use. The biggest variable? The stove. A gas stove using a cilindro de gas costs a fixed ~$3.00 and lasts a month or more for two people. An induction stovetop, however, can easily add $40-$60 per month to your CENTROSUR electricity bill for each additional heavy user. Acknowledge this and state you will cover the increased cost.

Step 2: The Verbal Conversation (The Crucial First Move)

Never lead with a formal letter. Start with a polite conversation.

Frame it as a Request, Not a Demand: Start with "Quisiera pedir su permiso..." (I would like to ask your permission...).
Be Transparent and Proactive:
- For a Guest: "My mother will be visiting from the United States to stay with me from June 1st to August 31st. I am writing to formally request your permission for her stay. I want to assure you I remain 100% responsible for the lease and the property."
- For a Roommate: "I have a trusted professional colleague who is interested in sharing the apartment with me. We would like your permission to proceed. How would you prefer to handle the contract? We are open to signing a new lease with both our names or adding an addendum to the current one."
Address Their Primary Concerns: Assure them that you take full responsibility for the guest's/roommate's conduct, adherence to building rules (reglamento interno), and any potential for noise or damages.

Step 3: Formalize Everything in Writing

After a positive verbal discussion, immediately send a follow-up email or letter summarizing the conversation and formally requesting written approval. This document is your proof.

Subject: Solicitud para Ocupante Adicional - [Your Address]
Content: Clearly state the name of the person, the duration (for a guest), and reiterate your commitment to the lease terms.
The Goal: Elicit a written "Aprobado" or "Estoy de acuerdo" (I agree) from your landlord. This email chain is now a legally binding part of your rental history.

Negotiating New Terms: Defending Against the "Expat Premium"

A landlord’s approval may come with conditions. This is where you must be prepared.

The Best Case: Simple Approval. They agree, especially for a temporary guest. You save their written approval, and you're done.
The Common Case: A Lease Addendum (Anexo al Contrato). This is the correct and professional way to handle a new roommate. The addendum should list the new tenant and clarify that all tenants are "jointly and severally liable" for the rent.
The Negotiation: Demands for More Money.
- Rent Increase: For a temporary guest, this is unjustifiable. For a new roommate, a landlord might propose a modest increase (e.g., 5-10%). Anything more is an attempt to apply "gringo pricing." Politely refuse unreasonable hikes by stating the rent is for the property, not the number of people.
- Increased Security Deposit (Garantía): This is a more reasonable request for a new long-term roommate.
  - Hyper-Specific Detail #2: The standard security deposit in Cuenca is one month's rent. For high-end furnished apartments, it can be two months. A landlord may ask for an additional half-month's deposit for a new roommate. Ensure this is documented in the addendum. The law requires the landlord to return the deposit within 30-60 days of the lease termination (acta de finiquito), provided there are no documented, itemized damages beyond normal wear and tear.

⚠️ The Critical Mistake: Ignoring the Process

DO NOT move someone in without explicit, written permission. I have seen this backfire spectacularly. A landlord discovers an unauthorized occupant and can—and often will—immediately begin eviction proceedings for breach of contract. This is not a gray area; it is a clear violation.

Hyper-Specific Detail #3: The most common lease duration for furnished apartments in prime expat zones (Centro, El Vergel, Puertas del Sol) is one year (un año). Landlords offering these leases value stability and predictability. An unauthorized occupant is the ultimate sign of an unpredictable, high-risk tenant. You will lose their trust, your security deposit, and potentially your housing.

Lease Addendum Checklist: Your Non-Negotiable Terms

When adding a roommate, insist on a signed addendum. It must include:

Parties: Landlord, Original Tenant(s), and New Tenant.
Reference: Clearly states it is an addendum to the original lease dated [Date].
Joint Liability Clause: A statement that all tenants are jointly and severally responsible for the full rent payment and all terms of the original lease.
Security Deposit: Notes the total amount of the deposit held by the landlord, including any additional contribution from the new tenant.
Signatures and Cédula/Passport Numbers: All parties must sign and date the document.

By approaching this process with strategy, local knowledge, and a commitment to formal documentation, you transform a potential point of conflict into a smooth and professional transaction. You reinforce your reputation as a responsible tenant and ensure your home in Cuenca remains a secure and happy place.

Need an expert to review your lease or negotiate with your landlord? Don't leave it to chance.

Secure Your Cuenca Apartment: Roommate & Guest Guide