Renting in CDMX has vocabulary that can decide whether a listing is realistic before you ever visit. Depa, renta, depósito, mantenimiento, contrato, aval, fiador, requisitos: none of these words is cute when you are trying to understand money.
This is vocabulary help, not legal advice. If a contract matters, get qualified local help before signing.
The rental listing map
Ask these before a visit.
| Listing word | What to ask |
|---|---|
| renta | ¿Cuánto es la renta mensual? |
| depósito | ¿Cuánto es de depósito? |
| mantenimiento | ¿Incluye mantenimiento? |
| contrato | ¿Por cuánto tiempo es el contrato? |
| requisitos | ¿Qué requisitos piden? |
| aval | ¿Piden aval? |
| fiador | ¿Aceptan póliza o fiador? |
| servicios | ¿Qué servicios incluye? |
Arrendamiento is the formal word behind leasing or renting.1 In everyday speech, you will hear renta, depa, and contrato more often.
Ask requirements before falling in love
The apartment may have light, plants, and a balcony that understands you. Still ask:
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¿Qué requisitos piden?What requirements do you ask for?
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¿Aceptan extranjeros?Do you accept foreigners?
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¿Piden aval o fiador?Do you require a guarantor?
Aval is a guarantee or guarantor-related word,2 and fiador means guarantor or surety.3 In rental life, these words can be the difference between “visit tomorrow” and “this listing is not for me.”
Money words: depósito, mantenimiento, servicios
Depósito means deposit.4 Mantenimiento is maintenance, usually a building fee. Servicios are utilities or services depending on context.
Ask:
| Need | Phrase |
|---|---|
| Deposit amount | ¿Cuánto es de depósito? |
| Maintenance included | ¿Incluye mantenimiento? |
| Utilities included | ¿Incluye servicios? |
| Internet included | ¿Incluye internet? |
| Total monthly cost | ¿Cuánto sería en total al mes? |
Contrato is not vibes
Contrato means contract.5 PROFECO’s rental guidance notes that a rental contract should be in writing under the civil-code framework it discusses.6
For you as a learner, the practical Spanish is:
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¿Me puede mandar el contrato para revisarlo?Can you send me the contract so I can review it?
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Necesito revisarlo antes de firmar.I need to review it before signing.
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¿Cuáles son las condiciones para terminar el contrato?What are the conditions for ending the contract?
Do not let politeness rush you into a signature. Slow Spanish is allowed when money and housing are involved.
A first message to a listing
Use this structure:
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Hola, me interesa el depa. ¿Sigue disponible? ¿Qué requisitos piden y cuánto sería en total al mes con mantenimiento?Hi, I am interested in the apartment. Is it still available? What requirements do you ask for, and how much would it be total per month with maintenance?
That message is not romantic. It is useful. In rental Spanish, useful beats charming.
Sources
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Diccionario de la lengua española, arrendamiento — Real Academia Española ↩
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Diccionario de la lengua española, aval — Real Academia Española ↩
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Diccionario de la lengua española, fiador — Real Academia Española ↩
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Diccionario de la lengua española, depósito — Real Academia Española ↩
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Diccionario de la lengua española, contrato — Real Academia Española ↩
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PROFECO, Proceso para rentar casa o departamento — Gobierno de México ↩
Test yourself
tap an answer.
You want to ask what documents they require. What do you say?
What should you ask about maintenance?
What is the safest move with a contract you do not understand?
