Can someone tell me about pitfalls of renting apartments in Buenos Aires?

Question

I've been thinking about going to Buenos Aires on my holidays, but I want to have more information about the pitfalls on renting an apartment. Can someone give me some tips? thanks!

Answer 1

Dear Buenos Aires Traveller

Re: How to choose an agency and apartment in Buenos Aires

Even if you do not choose an apartment in Buenos Aires through www.buenosairesstay.com , we want you to have a fantastic Buenos Aires Stay, so here are some tips:

1. Check how long a company has been around

It is very simple; when domains are purchased it is registered with ‘Whois’ registry that tells you the date of purchase. A long established website means a company has been around for a while.  Long established companies at least demonstrate a track record.  Check out www.BAStay.com and www.buenosairesstay.com, we have been around since 2004.

2. Have a closer look at the site

A website tells you an awful lot about a company. Forget bad design. That is a matter of taste.  Well structured sites that have multiple pages and lots of well thought out content are good indicators that a company cares.

3. Is there good quality informative travel advice?

In the case of travel, tours and vacations, accurate local information that helps you make the right decisions is of vital importance.  If a company takes the time to write informative guides that help you make a choice, then you can be quite sure that they care about you, their customer.

4. Have you seen that flat before?

Be wary of the many sites that carry the same photographs as those posted on our website. We check out all the apartments offered on our site and take our own photographs.  That ensures you get what you pay for!

5. Do not use the crooks!

Websites that steal copyright information do not hang around for long, they call us and other established companies like BAStay offering referral clients for half our fees. We refuse of course.  The sites generally have no apartments of their own and no database infrastructures, so no advanced search facilities. Example: www.baflat.com.   They accept reservations without actually having an apartment for you.

6. What should I pay?

Fee structures in BA are very much the same from company to company. Some charge an administration fee, some surcharge rents, other do both. Have a look around and ensure that your one bedroom in Recoleta (check the surface area of the apartment and quality) is not overpriced.  If you are happy with the rent – go for it!

7. Making a reservation

Do not pay more than 20% of the total rent and a booking fee in advance of a reservation.

Ensure that you read the terms and conditions of business and they state clearly that if the apartment is not as advertised (print a copy of the apartment as advertised and take it with you to the check-in) and you refuse to check-in and sign a contract, the agency will refund you in full or find you an alternative apartment.

Do not give your credit card to anyone in South America over the telephone or by email. Only use secure merchant services like PayPal to make your reservation payment.

Good luck!

Luka

Answer 2

Rent in nice parts of the capital is sky high and most rental agencies require you to have a guarantor who must reside in Buenos Aires (we actually had problems because ours was from Córdoba).

Answer 3

Of  course the best option is temporary rent.

But here is what you need to know:

If you rent an apartment directly with the owner you will save the agency commission which is normally 20% of the total price.

It is a myth that it is more risky, as the agency will just get their money in the check in and after that you will deal all with the owner of the flat and never see the agency people again unless the landlord has paid them for the checkout. Any problem you will deal with the owner. So whether you rent it through agency or not the risk is absolutely the same.

There a lots of agencies, most of them charge you 20% on commision, a few 15% or 10%. Most of them are fine, but all acts in the same way: they will go to the checking to get your money and that is it. I know that as I have been renting my flat for several years now with several of those agencies and I still do so. The problem is that it is not easy to find on the web apartments that are beign rent by the owners directly, but here you have one: www.argentinatolet.com.

Answer 4

Try the web site below for info.