Neutron diffraction, susceptibility and magnetization measurements were performed on iron boratesRFe3(BO3)4 (R = Y,Ho) to investigate the low temperature magnetic structures and to clarifythe role of the rare earth in the formation of the long-range magneticorder. Both compounds see an identical magnetic propagation vectorτ = [0,0,1/2] withinthe P3121 crystallographic space group appear at Néel temperatures ofTN = 37 K for theY and TN = 38 K for the Ho compound. The strong polarization effect of the Fe sublattice on theHo3+ ions leads to the simultaneous ordering of both sublattices while thecompetition between their anisotropies governs the spin-reorientation process atTSR = 5 K. The results obtained are discussed in the framework of the determined structural detailsand the specific rare-earth ions present including information on compounds investigatedearlier.