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- FAQ Renting in Chile
13/01/2023, updated 10/07/2024
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Since 2016, expat.cl has been maintaining this free online guide about Chile for foreigners, which takes a lot of time. Unfortunately, search engines now use this content to provide AI-generated answers. Therefore, our most up-to-date content is now only available in the Chile Handbook for Foreigners. Articles on this guide will still be updated, but less frequently.
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Can I rent an apartment or a house if I am a non-resident foreigner? Do I need a particular visa to rent a property?
You do not need a particular visa. You can rent a property with your passport if you do not have your visa yet. The landlords and estate agents would instead check whether you have a permanent work contract and what your monthly salary is.
Of course, it all depends on the type of property you are looking for. If you are considering renting a high-end property, the landlord is more likely to accept a foreign tenant because fewer Chileans can afford this kind of property.
How many properties do I need to visit before deciding?
It depends on your search and the adequacy between your budget and your criteria. Santiago is an expensive city, especially when you want to rent a small apartment in a sough-after area. Some searches are more complex than others.
Furthermore, if you do your research alone, you will likely spend more time than if you contact a real estate agent who knows the area. When we organize visits for a client, it regularly happens that the first property of our selection is the right one. If the criteria are well-defined and the expectations are realistic, 5 or 6 visits are enough to find the property that corresponds to you.
Do I have to pay a deposit? Is it necessary to have a guarantor in Chile?
Yes, you have to pay a deposit, which will be cashed by the landlord and given back to you at the end of the lease contract (though sometimes you have to sue to get it back). The amount of the deposit is between one and three months' rent. The standard for unfurnished accommodations is one month's rent. If you are a foreigner with few guarantees (no guarantor, foreign employment contract...), a higher deposit can be asked.
Be careful to pay the deposit only when you sign the contract, not from abroad, before arriving and without seeing the property. Scams are frequent. A guarantor is often required, especially for small apartments where there is lots of interest. It can be your company. From a legal point of view, the Spanish words aval, fiador, or codeudor solidario are used to describe the guarantor.
What are the documents to provide to sign the lease agreement? Are these documents different if I am a foreigner?"
It depends on whether you want to rent as an employee, as an independent worker, or through a company. The documents required will be different. As a foreigner, you cannot provide the same documents as a Chilean. For example, you do not have a credit history report in Chile. Therefore, you have to be creative in the documents you provide, in order for the landlord to choose your application.
Is the lease agreement different whether the property is furnished or not?
The lease is not different. It just mentions if the property is furnished. The inventory carried out when you start the lease is more substantial. Nevertheless, for the rental of a furnished property, you notice that some landlords:
- do not want to mention that the property is furnished on the contract or include the furniture in the inventory.
- want to sign two contracts: an unfurnished lease contract and a separate contract called conmodato concerning the furniture.
This is due to the difference in tax treatment for furnished rental properties, subject to VAT (the landlord must pay 19% of the rent to tax service), contrary to unfurnished rental properties. From the tenant's point of view, it does not change anything. As long as you are satisfied with the property, price, and contract period, it is not an issue. The only person who can face problems by doing this is the landlord.
Many listing mention gastos comunes (condo fees)? What are these charges? What do these charges include?
Gastos comunes apply to condominiums, whether apartment buildings or housing developments. They include :
- staff salaries (administration, janitors, guards, cleaning staff for common areas, gardener, swimming pool),
- costs associated with maintaining and restoring the condominium's common areas (electricity, water, pool, and elevator maintenance, etc.),
- insurance: fire insurance at the very least, but sometimes also earthquakes, liability, etc.
The exact breakdown between these charges depends on the size and type of condominium. In general, 60-70% are staff costs, 20-30% maintenance of the condominium's common areas, and 5-10% insurance and guarantee funds.
These charges may also include the supply of cold water, which is billed to each apartment or house in proportion to the property's share of the community (set when the building is built, based on surface area and number of parking spaces). A condominium may also provide hot water and central heating. These two components are billed individually to each apartment/house, according to consumption.
Do I need to open an account in my name for electricity, water, gas, and internet?
Electricity and gas are almost always supplied separately, and an account with the supplier is required. For water, it depends. Some condominiums have an account at the building level and then divide it up. Others have an account for each apartment/house.
However, whether for electricity, water, or gas, the account with the utility provider is almost always opened in the name of the owner or the property developer who built the building. So you don't have to open an account. Unpaid bills remain linked to the property, so opening and closing accounts is unnecessary.
However, you should check the utility accounts, because if there is an unpaid bill, you could be required to pay it if your contract does not stipulate that previous unpaid bills are to be paid by the owner.
For internet, landline telephone, and cable/satellite TV, you'll often need to open an account. This requires a Chilean identity card. If you don't have one, you'll need to arrange with the owner or a friend/colleague to open the line in his or her name. In this case, you can have the amount included in the rent, or pay separately every month. This is often the case with furnished rentals, where the apartment already has Internet/TV installation.
How do I verify condominium fees and utilities before renting?
As far as the condominium fees are concerned, the easiest way is to ask the concierge in the building or the condominium in which the house/apartment is located. He can show you the last condominium statements with the details of fees due for each unit.
Concerning the charges related to the consumption of water, electricity, and gas, you can get them directly on the site of the different providers, by entering the property address that interests you. To avoid worrying about delinquencies from the previous tenant, we advise you to add a clause allowing you1, as a tenant, to deduct from your first rent any charges not paid by the former tenant prior to your arrival.
What is the minimum lease period in Chile?
Generally, the minimum lease period is 12 months in Chile. The landlords often pay attention to the profiles of potential tenants and prefer not to change too frequently. For rentals under a year, you should look at apartment hotels or furnished apartments, which are more expensive but for which landlords accept shorter duration contracts.
Is it possible to include a diplomatic clause?
Yes, most landlords renting to foreigners accept a diplomatic clause, which allows them to terminate the contract if:
- your company transfers you out of Chile,
- your company dismisses you,
- the Chilean immigration department rejects your visa/residence application.
Generally, this clause is active only after a year. The landlords want to avoid that their tenant leaves the property three months after entering the premises.
Are there a pool and a gym in buildings in Santiago?
The most recent buildings (less than ten years) located in Santiago's well-off neighborhoods almost all include a gym. A pool is also a standard feature, especially if the building has been designed with families in mind.
The most recent buildings do not always have one. Given that the land price is higher than ever, property developers maintain their level of profitability by increasing the quantity or surface of their apartments for sale and reducing common areas. They also reduce condominium fees by not including a pool, making their building more attractive in a context of high prices.
Do I have to bring my furniture?"
Unfurnished houses and apartments only include an oven and baking trays. There is a wide range of furnished apartments but few furnished houses. Nevertheless, we advise you to bring your furniture or buy it in Chile (buying/selling groups between expatriates exist). Indeed, furnished property rental is subject to VAT at the rate of 19%, which significantly raises rent.
Are pets allowed?
In houses, pets are generally allowed. In buildings, it depends on the condominium's declaration (the building administration might have decided to forbid them), and the landlord's rules. The older the building is, the more likely they are allowed. As far as the landlord is concerned, it depends. Some require an additional month as a guarantee, especially if it is a furnished property, to hedge against the damage caused by pets.
Do you provide services for short-term rental (a few days/weeks)?
We do not directly provide this service. Nevertheless, we work with apartment hotels where you can stay for a few days. Prices vary between 80 and 350 US dollars per day, depending on the type of property you are looking for. If your budget fits this price range, contact us with your booking dates and we will get you in touch with the partners that best fit your criteria. If your budget is lower, we advise you to shift towards short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com.
What are the real estate prices in Santiago?
It is impossible to answer this question. It depends on the neighborhood, the type of property, its condition… We wrote a 65-page guide that presents the main neighborhoods in which expatriates live. Do not hesitate to contact us to get more information on:
- the type of property you can get for a given budget,
- the budget required to rent a property in a given neighborhood.
We need the following information: type of property, furnished or unfurnished, surface area, neighborhood, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, lease term, particular requirements (upper floor, pool, gym…).
What neighborhoods should I avoid/prefer for a long-term rental?
It depends on your expectations, lifestyle, and budget, of course. The easiest way to assess neighborhoods is to consult our guides on neighborhoods to get an idea of your options or to contact us with your criteria.
Do you want to go more in detail?
I wrote the Chile Handbook for Foreigners for anyone and everyone looking to move permanently and enjoy life in Chile. It's a 265-page book that goes over all aspects of relocating to Chile. Here is what you get:
✅ Practical tips based on 7-year relocation experience
✅ To-do lists to help you start
✅ Last updated in 2024
