Renting an Apartment in Uruguay

Uruguay · Step by Step

Renting an apartment in Uruguay is straightforward once you clear the one real obstacle — the guarantee. Here is how the garantía works, the newer guarantee-light route foreigners can actually use, the neighbourhoods that suit newcomers, and the deposits and commissions to budget for.

The guarantee: the thing that trips up newcomers

Uruguay's rental market is calm and well-regulated, but almost every landlord asks for a garantía — security that the rent will be paid. Traditionally that meant a co-signer who owns property in the city, which most newcomers do not have.

The practical routes for foreigners are a rental-guarantee policy from a firm such as ANDA or Porto Seguros, a deposit-based guarantee through the state schemes, or simply paying several months up front. An inmobiliaria (letting agency) will tell you which guarantees a given landlord accepts.

The guarantee-light lease

A 2020 reform — part of the LUC law — created a streamlined lease that trades the heavy co-signer requirement for a clearer, faster process, typically backed by a larger deposit. It is aimed squarely at tenants who cannot produce a local property-owning guarantor.

Not every landlord offers it, so ask specifically whether a flat is available sin garantía under the newer rules. Treat any figure an agent quotes as a starting point and confirm the exact deposit in writing.

Where to live

Most expats start in Montevideo's coastal belt: Pocitos and Punta Carretas for walkable, rambla-side living; Cordón and Centro for lower rents closer to the city core; and leafy Carrasco for families wanting space and international schools.

On the Atlantic coast, Punta del Este is the other magnet — glossy and busy in the January summer, far quieter and cheaper out of season, when long-term deals appear.

What it costs, and the contract

Beyond the first month's rent, budget roughly one month as a deposit and about one month as agency commission. Montevideo rents are usually in pesos with an annual adjustment tied to inflation; Punta del Este often prices in dollars.

Leases (contratos de arrendamiento) generally run one to two years and are registered. Read the adjustment clause and the break terms before signing, and keep proof of every payment.

Frequently Asked Questions

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