With all the accommodation options in Argentina, finding a housing solution that suits you should not be a problem, whether you are visiting for a brief period of time, or whether you plan to move here for the long term. Prices are reasonable but may vary according to seasonal demands, such as the beginning of the academic year and throughout the tourist season.
Finding accommodation in Argentina
When you first move to Argentina, you may want to consider staying in hostels, pensions, or in a family homestay, as these types of accommodation are the most convenient and will give you a base while you look for somewhere more permanent. There are various different channels you can then use to find a house or an apartment, listed below.
Browse the web
Many websites dedicated to flat-sharing are at your disposal, especially in Buenos Aires, such as Piso Compartido, Spare Rooms Buenos Aires, and DormsBA.
Read/ post ads
There are classified ads in the real estate sections of newspapers such as El Clarin and La Nacion, and should you wish to post a free ad, you can do so in the classifieds section.
Visit real estate agencies
Working with a real estate agency will help you find a place to live in less time, as local housing agencies understand the Argentinian real estate market better and can connect you to landlords looking for tenants. Many real estate companies in Argentina have also developed housing units that cater specifically to expats. Just be aware that if you end up renting through a real estate agency, a finder's fee equivalent to a fixed percentage of the total amount of rent covering the entire duration of the lease will apply.
Renting accommodation in Argentina
Housing in Argentina is either let furnished or unfurnished, with the availability of furnished places being much greater in major cities like Buenos Aires and Cordoba. In smaller cities, such as Comodoro Rividavia, finding a furnished place may prove rather tricky.
The most common practice for the duration of a lease agreement is a minimum of two years and a maximum of ten. Short-term rental agreements tend to develop in order to better meet foreign customers' demand. If you sign a two-year lease, a mandatory minimum occupation period of 6 months is required and you can not break your lease before that period. The landlord can not break the lease before term.
Both the landlord and tenant have to sign the rental contract, which will be valid for two years if it is a residential unit, and in addition to this, you will have to sign an affidavit known as convenion de desocupacion. This document gives the landlord the right to terminate the contract should there be a major problem with the tenant.
Rent is payable on a monthly basis and you'll most likely be required to provide one month's rent and a security deposit when signing your contract. Be wary of landlords who ask for a deposit two or more months prior to moving in, as this is actually illegal according to housing laws in Argentina. Expenses such as water, gas, electricity, telephone, or internet are generally not included and have to be paid separately.
Accommodation prices in Argentina are determined by size and location, and housing is measured in square meters. Something else you should bear in mind is that the housing here is described by the number of rooms, which includes the kitchen and living room, and there can sometimes be several living rooms in one place.
We hope you found this article useful! For more articles on expat life in Argentina, visit our website.
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