PropertyUpdated 2026-09-27 · 6 min read
Garantía alternatives for foreign tenants in Argentina
A foreign renter without an Argentine property-owning guarantor can propose a seguro de caución, a local or employer guarantor, or a negotiated deposit. The owner must agree to the specific security before you pay for it.
In short
- A property-owning guarantor is a landlord's requirement, not a universal statutory condition of renting.
- A seguro de caución requires both the owner's acceptance of the insurer and the insurer's approval of the tenant.
- The insurance premium is a cost; a cash deposit may be returned under the lease's agreed terms.
- At US$750 monthly rent, a three-month deposit ties up US$2,250 before the first month's rent.
- The lease should record the security's currency, scope and refund or liability terms.
A Buenos Aires landlord asks for a *garantía propietaria*, a guarantor backed by Argentine property, and you have just arrived from Britain without one. You can propose a *seguro de caución* (rental guarantee insurance), a local or employer guarantor, or an agreed cash deposit. The owner decides which specific substitute to accept. On a US$750-a-month flat, three months' deposit ties up US$2,250, whereas an insurance premium is a separately quoted, non-refundable expense.
Why the owner asks for security
A *garantía* secures unpaid rent and any other obligations specified in the lease. Argentine law does not require every tenant to present a deed to Buenos Aires property. Individual owners may insist on a property guarantor in the same jurisdiction, accept one from another province or prefer insurance. An *inmobiliaria* (estate agency) can discuss options, but the owner's acceptance of the actual proposed insurer or guarantor is what matters.
DNU 70/2023 removed the 2020 rental law's mandatory framework for lease term, currency and rent adjustments. The parties agree those terms, and the Civil and Commercial Code allows them to agree a rental deposit's amount, currency and method of return. Three or six months' security is therefore a negotiation, rather than a fixed legal tariff. For the rest of the lease, including charges and inspections, see renting a flat in Buenos Aires.
| Security | What the tenant supplies | Main condition | At the end of the tenancy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property guarantor | A willing person's identity and property records, without an insurance premium | Owner accepts the person and property location | Guarantor's liability follows the signed agreement |
| Seguro de caución | Quoted premium and documents for identity and income checks | Insurer approves the tenant; owner accepts that insurer | Premium is not returned as a deposit |
| Larger cash deposit | Agreed sum, such as US$2,250 for three months at US$750 rent | Owner agrees the amount and any other security | Refund follows the lease, deductions and flat condition |
| Employer guarantee | Authorised signature and company documents | Employer and owner both agree | Employer's liability follows the undertaking |
| Rent in advance | Payment for the agreed rental period | Large sum is paid before occupancy | Early departure does not automatically trigger a refund; advance rent does not necessarily cover damage |
These amounts illustrate a choice, not market prices (September 2026). At the month's reference rate of ARS 1,545 per US$, US$750 was about ARS 1,158,750 and US$2,250 about ARS 3,476,250. The lease's currency and adjustment clause govern the actual peso obligation. Insurance premiums vary with rent, length, cover and the applicant's assessment, so a dated quote is more useful than an old percentage of annual rent.
What insurance involves for a new arrival
A *seguro de caución* puts an insurer behind the owner's covered claims instead of asking a person to pledge property. Finaer offers rental guarantees, but its current eligibility, coverage and price need to be assessed for the particular lease and applicant. If the insurer pays the owner following a default, it may then pursue the tenant for the sum paid. The cover protects the owner within its written terms.
The sensible order is to find a landlord willing to accept insurance, establish the insurers they accept and then seek a quote. Browse rentals in Buenos Aires with that requirement in mind. The proposed rent and lease term determine the cover sought; the owner may also want *expensas* (building service charges) and utilities included. Written owner approval before buying a policy prevents a paid premium from being attached to an unusable offer.
For the insurer's checks, a recent arrival may supply a passport, proposed lease details, evidence of Argentine status if requested and bank statements, payslips or pension letters. UK income may need translation or further verification. A DNI (*Documento Nacional de Identidad*, Argentine identity card) and local income can simplify checks, but each provider sets its own eligibility rules; a tourist passport alone may be insufficient. The quote should specify premium currency, instalments, the insured owner, coverage cap, exclusions, dates, cancellation terms and any top-up after a rent increase. UK tenancy deposit protection is a different arrangement: a caución premium pays for insurance rather than building a refundable pot.
Once insurer and owner agree, the issued policy and signed lease should match on address, rent currency and dates. Keep the full policy and payment receipt. Underwriting can take time when income is paid in pounds abroad, with no fixed approval time for every applicant. If the documents are still coming together, a furnished short-term rental can provide breathing space while residence and income evidence is assembled. Compare the full short-stay price with long-lease entry costs in the first-month rental guide.
If a person or employer stands behind the lease
For a personal guarantor, the owner's criteria may include Argentine identification, a property title or employment evidence, and a restriction on the province where the property sits. Someone agreeing to sign should understand that the undertaking may cover charges or damage as well as late rent, depending on its wording. A British property deed has value, but the owner may prefer security enforceable locally.
An employer guarantee needs the company's agreement, an authorised signatory and corporate identification. Its undertaking can set a maximum liability and expiry date. Some owners prefer an employer established in Argentina to a UK company they would struggle to pursue. For an employer-funded relocation, resolving those terms before the move leaves less to negotiate after arrival.
When a cash deposit is the answer
A deposit can be returned, but the terms governing that return belong in the signed lease. The agreement should identify the amount and currency, the recipient and dated receipt, any set-off against unpaid bills, and the return deadline, method and currency. An inventory, photographs, meter readings and a record of keys at move-in and move-out give both parties evidence if deductions are disputed. An oral promise of escrow gives little comfort when the payment actually goes straight to the owner. Rent paid in advance brings an even larger exposure and is a payment for occupancy rather than a replacement for damage cover.
For a couple arriving from Manchester to rent a US$750 one-bedroom in Belgrano, three months' security would tie up US$2,250 (about ARS 3,476,250 at the September 2026 reference rate). With the first month's US$750, they would pay US$3,000 before any other agreed charges. Two years' rent prepaid would be US$18,000. Three months of UK payslips, an ongoing employment letter and bank statements might instead support an application to an insurer the owner has named, even if neither tenant yet has a DNI; approval rests with the provider. A quoted premium and a refundable deposit are different kinds of cost, and the lease determines how much of the deposit can be recovered.
A landlord's answer on the exact form of security changes the sums that must be ready for signing. An owner who accepts a named insurer makes a long lease possible without tying up a large deposit; an owner who prefers cash puts the return clause and move-in record at the centre of the deal. For a stay measured in weeks while arranging a DNI or local work, a furnished let may be the more suitable contract. For neighbourhood choice or rent adjustments, the Buenos Aires renting guide covers the wider search.
Questions
- Can I rent in Argentina without a garantía propietaria?
- Yes, if the owner accepts insurance, an employer or personal guarantor, or a negotiated deposit instead. The specific substitute needs the owner's agreement.
- How much is a seguro de caución for an Argentine rental?
- There is no single statutory premium. The insurer quotes for the rent, lease term, cover and applicant's evidence; unlike a deposit, the premium is generally not returned.
- Will a British property deed work as my guarantor's security?
- The owner decides whether to accept a UK guarantor and may favour an Argentine property they can more readily pursue. An accepted insurance provider may be simpler than an overseas deed.
- Can my landlord request three months' deposit in 2026?
- The amount and currency are agreed between the parties under the post-DNU 70/2023 regime. Three months is an example for negotiation, not a statutory rate; the lease should set out payment and refund terms.
- Can I apply for rental guarantee insurance without a DNI?
- Some applications can be assessed with a passport and UK income evidence, but eligibility depends on the particular insurer. Ask the provider accepted by the owner what Argentine status and income documents it requires.