If you’ve made it this far, it’s because you’re looking to rent a property in some destination in Argentina. Whether you’re moving to a new city for a job, relocating within your own neighborhood or city, or you’re a student.
It’s important to keep in mind several key topics related to renting properties, whether apartments, cabins, or other types of family housing.
Is it a good idea to rent an apartment directly from the owner?
It’s very common nowadays to see signs or ads that say “Owner Renting.”
As with everything, it has its advantages and disadvantages. One advantage is saving on the real estate agency commission, which in traditional 24-month leases under the new regulation would be around one month’s rent.
Another advantage (and sometimes disadvantage) is the speed with which the contract can be completed if you easily reach an agreement with the owner on the details, and a key issue: rent updates. Generally, semiannual adjustments are being made, around 15% depending on each case.
Among the disadvantages, direct dealings between tenants and owners can sometimes create certain frictions, which—when there is no agreement on specific points of the contract—may result in a failed rental. In this sense, real estate agencies that carry out their work professionally can help quite a lot to bring both parties together and achieve a successful agreement.
Another disadvantage could be the required paperwork—from the initial deposit to checking the title and lien certificates for the guarantee being presented. If the property owners or tenants don’t have much experience, the process can take a long time, and sometimes they may end up signing documents that put them at risk. And when it comes to terminating the contract, the role of real estate agencies becomes even more important.
The role of the real estate agency in rentals
Real estate agencies must have a licensed real estate broker on staff, registered in the jurisdiction where they operate. If they want to operate in multiple locations, they must obtain a license for each place. In the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (Capital Federal), CUCICBA (the Unified College of Real Estate Brokers) is responsible for organizing and overseeing the proper functioning of the real estate market in that area.
The licensed broker must be informed of the latest resolutions regarding Argentina’s rental law and aware of updates from the Rental Chamber. They must be trained to draw up traditional 2-year contracts as well as short-term rentals, which can be for 1 day (minimum stay), per week, or per month, up to 6 months (maximum stay). In this short-term rental model, the apartment is offered furnished and equipped. These rentals typically don’t require a capital-city guarantee, but they do require certain other conditions.
Most sought-after property type: the “PH”
In terms of demand, PH units are often highly sought after—both for their format and community-style living, but especially because they don’t include building fees (expensas). Nowadays, this is a key factor when choosing an apartment.
Within the apartment supply, there are many studios and one-bedroom units, which are among the most in-demand due to being the most affordable and versatile. Then come two-bedroom and three-bedroom units, which have less supply but are more sought after by larger families.
More rental destinations in Argentina
You can find more places you may be interested in, such as short-term rentals in Barrio Norte in Buenos Aires, winter vacation rentals in Bariloche, cabins in Córdoba, apartments in Rosario, and coastal options for the summer, such as Mar del Plata, among others.
