Renting your Isla Mujeres Home.

How practical is it to live on Isla Mujeres and occasionally rent you home when you go back to the States or Canada to visit family? There are two ways residents can consider renting out their home, firstly as aforementioned, keeping the property as your home and letting it out when it is convenient for you, or living in your home but making it available for rental all year round.

Nowadays with all the rising costs associated with renting a property on Isla Mujeres, the first option has become increasingly less attractive. Up until about ten years ago, many homeowners unofficially rented their property, unofficially that is as far as Isla Mujeres Municipio was concerned. Then the local government realized there was a source of untapped income waiting to be tapped with vacation rentals.

To the shock of many they then started to scour the internet looking for rental properties advertised; Airbnb, VRBO, Mundaca Real Estate and Everything Isla. Following which inspectors turned up at the properties and demanded to see their documentation and permissions, which of course many didn't have, threatening to "Clausular" the property. When they Clausular a home they put tape around the property and nobody is allowed in or out. We understand that many home owners came to a private arrangement with the inspectors, which they felt they had to, because the property was rented at the time.

At first the requirements to acquire permission to rent a property weren't too onerous but with time the municipio became increasing demanding; now there has to be signs advising guests of fire exits, depth of the pool and slippery surfaces. Additionally, there has the be electrical inspections, which often results in many changes being required. Fire extinguishers and smoke alarms are required and the extinguishers have to be changed each year. Even first aid kits need to be on hand. Then the Municipio had the brilliant idea that the staff or owners must go on life saving courses and rather comically there has to be a dedicated life guard.

All these requirements have become increasingly expensive, we have four Isla Mujeres rental homes in Punta Sur and inspectors frequently visit to check that we are meeting all the requirements, it seems to us that they are keen to find that we are not complying.

Letting your home when it suits you, may not stack up now with the high local government cost. Making your home available to rent all year may be the most practical option, and then with the rental achieved go on a nice holiday whilst it is rented.