Argentina (AR)
Argentina is South America's second-largest country — a land of European-influenced culture, world-class wine, legendary beef, breathtaking landscapes from Patagonia to the Andes, and one of the most vibrant expat communities in Latin America.
Renting in Argentina
Full lifecycle: finding, moving in, during tenancy, leaving.
Renting in Argentina is complex due to high inflation, frequent legal changes, and a dual ARS/USD market. Since the 2023 DNU deregulation (Decreto 70/2023), landlords can set rent prices in any currency and adjust at any frequency agreed in the contract — ending the mandatory 3-year/CER-indexed system. Most Buenos Aires rental agreements for expats are now USD-denominated with quarterly or semi-annual adjustments. Non-Mercosur expats face the additional challenge of not having a local guarantor (garante propietario) — a rental bond insurance (seguro de caución) is now the standard alternative.
1. Finding a flat
- - Passport (valid, full copy)
- - DNI or residency document (if available — not required for initial application but helps)
- - CUIL (tax ID number — obtainable at AFIP even as a tourist)
- - Proof of income: last 3 months bank statements, employer letter, or foreign income documentation
- - Seguro de caución (rental bond insurance) from Fianza Online or similar — replaces guarantor
- - Employment contract or freelance income evidence
- - References from previous landlords if available
- - Budget USD for your rental — most Buenos Aires expat apartments are dollar-denominated. Peso rentals are more common outside capital but subject to higher uncertainty.
- - In Palermo, Belgrano, Recoleta: furnished expat apartments with USD contracts are readily available. Expect to pay USD 600–1,500/month for a decent 1BR in 2026.
- - Use a local inmobiliaria (real estate agent) — they know which landlords accept seguro de caución instead of a local guarantor. CUCICBA-registered agents are regulated.
- - Negotiate a price: landlords in BA often start slightly high. 5–10% negotiation is normal, especially for longer contracts.
- - Request an expensas (common building charges) breakdown — these are separate from rent and can add USD 80–200/month for nicer buildings with pool/gym/doorman.
- - Avoid purely ARS contracts unless you have local income — the risk of rapid currency depreciation makes ARS contracts difficult to budget for.
ExpatCheapRent is a rental platform built for expats — worth a look alongside the local platforms above when you start your search in Argentina.
2. Before move-in
Handover protocol
Acta de Entrega / Inventario — absolutely essential in Argentina. Document every defect, mark, stain, appliance condition, and damage with photos and video. Both parties sign the protocol. Without it, you will have difficulty recovering your deposit or proving pre-existing damage. Send a copy by WhatsApp to the landlord to timestamp it. Read all utility meters (gas, electricity, water if metered) and note in the protocol.
Deposit
Max: Typically 1–2 months rent (in the same currency as the contract — USD or ARS). Under the post-2023 deregulation, deposit amounts are freely negotiated. Most landlords ask for 1 month equivalent.
Rules: Deposit (depósito) is held by the landlord (not in escrow — unlike Germany). Get a signed receipt (recibo) for your deposit. Deposit covers unpaid rent or damage beyond normal wear and tear. The acta de entrega at move-in is your best protection.
Return deadline: No statutory timeframe — governed by the contract. Typically returned within 15–30 days of move-out after utilities are confirmed settled. Include a specific deadline in your contract before signing.
Alternatives: Seguro de caución replaces the cash deposit guarantee (it covers the landlord for unpaid rent/damage) but you typically also pay a separate cash deposit — ask landlord if they accept the caución as full security.
3. During your tenancy
Servicios / Expensas Liquidation
Frequency: Monthly (utilities billed monthly; expensas (common charges) billed monthly by the building administration)
Dispute window: 30 days from receipt to object in writing. Keep all receipts.
- - Landlord asking you to pay expensas extraordinarias (capital improvements — new lift, roof repairs) — these are the owner's responsibility by law
- - Landlord billing you for ABL (real estate tax) — this is the owner's obligation
- - Utility bills in the landlord's name that they forward to you without original receipts
- - Unexplained charges added to monthly invoice without documentation
Repairs: Under Argentine law, the landlord is responsible for all major repairs (locación — obras necesarias) that maintain the property in habitable condition. Tenant is responsible for minor damage they cause. Gas appliance maintenance (service de calefacción) is typically tenant responsibility annually — keep records. In practice, many Argentine landlords are slow to repair — document all repair requests in writing (WhatsApp message is accepted as evidence) and send follow-up after 30 days.
4. Moving out
Notice period: Under the 2023 deregulation: notice periods are governed by the contract (not fixed by law). Most contracts require 30–60 days written notice. Standard practice: carta documento (registered legal letter) sent by Correo Argentino or escribano — this creates a legally binding and timestamped notice. WhatsApp notice is commonly used but less legally secure for deposit disputes.
Final handover: Acta de entrega at move-out — same process as move-in. Take photos/video of every room. Return all keys and access cards. Get a signed release (recibo de llaves) from the landlord confirming receipt of keys and property condition. Request return of deposit in writing specifying your bank account or preferred transfer method. Read all meters and photograph the final readings.
Deposit return: Legally, deposit should be returned after move-out within any timeframe specified in the contract. If landlord withholds without cause, you can: (1) send a carta documento demanding return within 5 business days; (2) file a consumer complaint with the Dirección General de Defensa y Protección del Consumidor; (3) initiate mediation at SECLO (for Buenos Aires). Keep all actas, receipts, and communication records.
Your tenant rights
Tenant association: FEHGRA and tenant advocacy groups are active in Argentina. The Buenos Aires City government runs free mediation services (SECLO — Servicio de Conciliación Laboral Obligatoria for labour, and Centro de Mediación for civil disputes). Legal aid is available free through the Defensoría del Pueblo and the Ministerio de Justicia's Centros de Acceso a la Justicia (CAJ) in Buenos Aires.
Rent control: Since the 2023 deregulation (Decreto 70/2023 of President Milei), Argentina has no rent control — prices are freely negotiated. Previously, the Ley de Alquileres 2020 imposed 3-year minimum terms and CER-indexed increases. The current system allows any currency, any term, any adjustment mechanism agreed between parties. This benefits USD-earning expats but creates more uncertainty for ARS-income tenants.
Eviction protection: Tenant protection still exists: landlords must go through the judicial process (juicio de desalojo) to evict a tenant — self-help eviction (changing locks, removing belongings) is illegal. Courts can take 6–18 months for eviction processes. For expats, this means that once in a property, you have significant de facto security even if you stop paying — but this also means landlords are cautious about tenants and require strong documentation upfront.