Renting in Santiago Without a Chilean Guarantor
Chile · Housing
Key Facts
- The old barrier. Renting in Santiago traditionally required a Chilean guarantor (an “aval”) — a hurdle most newcomers cannot meet.
- The market shifted. Large institutional landlords now run many buildings and accept newcomers without a personal guarantor.
- Proof of residency-in-progress works. A “Residencia en Trámite” certificate is increasingly accepted in place of a finished visa.
- Insurance replaces the guarantor. Rent-guarantee insurance lets you rent without an aval, for a fee.
- Budget for the basics. Expect a deposit (often one month) and rent that is frequently tied to inflation.
For years, the hardest part of renting in Santiago was not the price — it was the paperwork. Landlords wanted a Chilean guarantor, something a new arrival simply does not have. That is finally changing, thanks to a shift in who owns the city’s rental stock.
Here is how newcomers are now signing leases in Santiago without knowing a single Chilean willing to co-sign.
The guarantor problem
Chile’s traditional rental model leaned on the “aval”: a local property owner who guarantees your lease. For foreigners, that was often an impossible ask, leaving many stuck in pricey short-term rentals or informal sublets while they tried to find a workaround.
It was the single biggest friction point for newcomers trying to settle in the city.
What changed for renting in Santiago
Over the past couple of years, large institutional landlords — companies that own and manage entire residential buildings, the “multifamily” model — have taken a growing share of Santiago’s rental market. Crucially, they are set up to rent to people without a personal guarantor.
Instead of an aval, they typically accept a “Residencia en Trámite” certificate (proof your residency application is in progress) plus rent-guarantee insurance, a product you pay for that stands in for the guarantor. For many newcomers, that combination has turned an impossible search into a manageable one.
How to do it
In practice, the path looks like this: start your residency application so you can show the in-process certificate; target buildings run by institutional landlords (often advertised as professionally managed or “multifamily”); and be ready to take out rent-guarantee insurance, which carries a fee but unlocks the lease. Expect to put down a deposit, usually around one month, and read the contract for how rent is adjusted — in Chile it is frequently indexed to inflation, so it can rise over the term.
It is still worth comparing options: traditional private landlords may offer better prices but stricter requirements, while institutional buildings trade a little flexibility for far easier entry. For a first lease as a newcomer, the easier entry is usually worth it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I still need a Chilean guarantor to rent in Santiago?
Increasingly, no. Large institutional landlords now accept newcomers without a personal guarantor (an “aval”), typically using rent-guarantee insurance and a “Residencia en Trámite” certificate instead.
Traditional private landlords may still ask for an aval.
What is a “Residencia en Trámite” certificate?
It is proof that your residency application is in progress. Many institutional landlords accept it in place of a finished visa, which makes it possible to sign a lease soon after you arrive rather than waiting months.
What does rent-guarantee insurance do?
It substitutes for a personal guarantor: for a fee, an insurer effectively backs your lease, which is what lets you rent without an aval. The cost varies, so ask the landlord or agency what they require and what it will cost.
What else should I budget for?
Expect a deposit, often around one month’s rent, and check how the rent is adjusted — in Chile it is frequently tied to inflation, so it can increase over the life of the lease.
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