Deposit and lease agreement in Las Terrenas: good practice

In a one- to twelve-month rental, most misunderstandings surface at the end: the condition of the home, unpaid bills, getting the deposit back. Clear paperwork from day one prevents most of them. This guide covers good practice and gives a general summary of the legal framework, checked on 2 October 2026.

Never pay a deposit or an advance before viewing the home or verifying the listing and the person behind it. A deposit demanded before any viewing, or payment by money transfer, gift cards or crypto, are warning signs. More on our avoid scams page.

Good practice

A written lease

• Names and ID of both parties, the address and a description of the home.
• Start and end dates, rent amount, currency, payment date and method.
• Deposit amount and the conditions for returning it.
• Notice rules for ending or renewing the lease.
• If the rent changes with the season, the dates and amounts for each period.

An inventory with photos

• Walk through the home with the owner or agency when you move in and when you leave.
• Photograph every room, the furniture, the appliances and any existing damage, with dates.
• Note the electricity meter reading at move-in and move-out.
• Both sign the inventory, and keep a copy.

Receipts for everything

• Ask for a receipt for every payment (rent, deposit, charges) showing date, amount, purpose and signature.
• Prefer payment methods that leave a trail.

Who pays for what

If the electricity contract is transferred to your name, Luz y Fuerza asks for proof of tenancy, such as the lease.

Getting the deposit back

• State in the lease when the deposit will be returned and what can be deducted (damage beyond normal wear, unpaid bills).
• Ask for any deduction to be justified in writing, with evidence.
• Compare the move-out condition with the move-in inventory and photos.

Legal framework (general information)

A summary of Law No. 85-25 on the Rental of Real Estate and Evictions (Ley sobre Alquileres de Bienes Inmuebles y Desahucios), based on the published text and several legal summaries, checked on 2 October 2026:

• Dates: passed on 5 August 2025 and promulgated on 15 August 2025 (Gaceta Oficial No. 11211). It repealed Law 4314 of 1955, Law 17-88 and Decree 4807 of 1959. Content that refers to the mandatory deposit with Banco Agrícola under Law 4314 is therefore out of date.
• Deposit cap: for housing, the landlord may require a deposit of no more than two months' rent.
• Lodging the deposit with a bank: if both parties agree, the landlord may lodge the deposit, with a copy of the lease, at the local Banco Agrícola or Banreservas branch. This is optional.
• Written lease: the law requires a written lease stating the parties' details, a detailed description of the property, its exclusive use, the start and end dates, an address for notices and any other agreed terms. Registering it with the municipal Oficina de Registro Civil y Conservaduría de Hipotecas makes it enforceable against third parties.
• Notice: to end the lease and ask for the home to be vacated, notice must be given at least 90 calendar days before the lease term ends.
• Rent increases: what the parties agreed applies; for housing with no agreed adjustment formula, the increase may not exceed 10%. Summaries differ on whether this cap is general or only applies when the lease is silent.
• Not confirmed: one unofficial guide says a landlord who withholds the deposit must tell the tenant in writing within 5 days, with reasons and evidence. We also did not check how the law treats short-term or furnished tourist rentals.

Sources checked on 2 October 2026: text of Law 85-25 (PDF, in Spanish), a legal summary in Spanish and an executive summary in English.

This section is general information, not legal advice. Laws and how they are applied can change. Before signing, or if a dispute arises, confirm your position with a lawyer in the Dominican Republic.

See also: furnished or unfurnished and the cost of living in Las Terrenas.