How Utilities Work in Bogotá Apartments
Before you move in, you need to know which utilities are your responsibility and which are handled by the building. Getting this wrong leads to unexpected bills — or worse, service cutoffs because utilities were left in the previous tenant's name.
The standard breakdown in Bogotá: electricity and gas are typically transferred to the tenant's name for unfurnished leases. Water is usually included in the administración fee or billed to the landlord. Internet is a separate contract entirely.
The Two Common Apartment Scenarios
Scenario A: Unfurnished Apartment — You Take Over Utilities
In a traditional unfurnished rental, you take over the electricity and gas accounts in your name at the start of the lease. Water is usually building-level (included in administración). Internet is your own contract to establish.
The landlord should provide the most recent utility bills — which show the account numbers and supplier — so you can transfer the account to your name.
Scenario B: Furnished Apartment — Confirm What's Included in Writing
Many furnished rentals advertise "utilities included." Verify exactly what this means: electricity capped at a monthly amount? Internet included? What happens if you exceed the electricity allowance? Get all of this in the lease or in a separate written confirmation. Verbal promises about utilities are frequently disputed.
Electricity: Codensa (Enel)
Codensa is the primary electricity provider for most of Bogotá. To transfer an account to your name:
- Visit a Codensa service center or use their website (codensa.com.co)
- Bring your cédula de extranjería (or passport) and the current lease
- Provide the prior bill showing the account number (estrato and address)
- Complete the account change form — process takes 1–3 business days
Your bill will reflect your estrato — Colombia's socioeconomic stratification system. Strata 5–6 pay a surcharge that subsidizes lower strata. If you're in a strata 5–6 building, expect COP 200,000–450,000 per month depending on usage.
Gas: Vanti (formerly Gas Natural)
Vanti is the primary gas provider for Bogotá. The transfer process is similar to electricity but typically requires a service appointment for a meter reading at move-in. Book the appointment as soon as your move-in date is confirmed — wait times can run 3–7 business days.
Water: Usually Building-Level
In most Bogotá apartment buildings, water is included in the administración fee or billed collectively to the building, not to individual units. Verify this before assuming — some older buildings bill water to individual tenants.
Paying Utilities: Your Options
| Payment Method | How It Works | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| PSE | Colombia's unified online payment — works with any Colombian bank account | Most tenants with a bank account |
| Efecty | Cash payment at Efecty locations — no bank account needed | Pre-bank-account arrivals |
| Baloto | Similar to Efecty — cash at lottery/payment kiosks | Cash payers |
| Provider App | Codensa and Vanti have apps with payment functionality | Convenience |
Some landlords leave utilities in their own name and include them in the rent or collect separately. This creates dependency — if the landlord doesn't pay, you can face cutoffs without warning. Always negotiate for accounts in your name if staying long-term.
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually yes — in most Bogotá apartments, water is included in the administración fee or billed to the building collectively, not to individual tenants. Verify this in your specific lease before signing.
For unfurnished leases, you typically take over electricity (Codensa) and gas (Vanti). Water is usually building-level. Internet is a separate contract. Always confirm what's included in the rent and what you're responsible for before signing.
Your cédula de extranjería (or passport pre-CE), the signed lease contract, and the prior utility bill showing the account number. For electricity, Codensa processes transfers in 1–3 business days.
Approximately COP 200,000–450,000 per month depending on usage. Higher strata pay a surcharge that subsidizes lower strata. Strata 3 apartments run COP 60,000–120,000 per month.
Use Efecty or Baloto — cash payment networks available at thousands of locations citywide. No bank account required. Once you have a Colombian bank or Nequi account, PSE online payment is the most convenient option.