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Uruguay · Housing & Relocation

Renting in Uruguay

Partially verified Last verified June 15, 2026 Reviewed by Henry van de Vorming

Uruguay's rental market is small but functional and notably tenant-protective, centered on Montevideo (Pocitos, Punta Carretas, Cordón) with a strong seasonal furnished market in Punta del Este. The defining feature for an incoming nomad is the garantía (lease guarantee): most landlords require either a property-owning local co-signer, an institutional guarantee (ANDA, roughly 3% of rent per month), surety insurance from companies like Porto Seguro/MAPFRE/Sancor, or a deposit in reajustable mortgage bonds via the Banco Hipotecario del Uruguay (BHU). Standard unfurnished leases under the main regime (Decreto-Ley 14.219) carry a 2-year minimum plus a guaranteed 1-year extension for compliant tenants, which is long for someone testing the country, so most newcomers start in furnished short-term/Airbnb-style rentals month-to-month before committing. A 2020 reform (LUC, Ley 19.889) added a more flexible "no-guarantee" contract option with much shorter eviction timelines. Listings are dominated by InfoCasas, Gallito and Mercado Libre. Rents are commonly quoted alongside gastos comunes (building common-expense charges), which can add materially to the monthly cost.

The rental basics

Typical lease
2 years
Deposit
—
Furnished
Furnished + unfurnished
Mid-term market
Strong mid-term market
Address registration
Not required

Agency fee: Real estate agency commission is commonly around one month's rent plus 22% VAT, typically charged to the incoming tenant when renting through an inmobiliaria. Renting directly from an owner can avoid this.

Your rights as a tenant

Rental law is strongly tenant-protective under Decreto-Ley 14.219: residential leases have a 2-year minimum term plus a guaranteed 1-year renewal for tenants in good standing; annual rent increases are capped to the lesser of URA or IPC movements; the guarantee a landlord can demand is legally capped at up to 5 months' rent for residential; and execution of residential evictions (lanzamientos) is suspended each year between 1 April and 15 December. The 2020 LUC (Ley 19.889) no-guarantee regime trades some of these protections for faster, more flexible contracting (e.g. a 30-day eviction timeline on contract expiry and roughly a week for non-payment).

Good to know

  • Strong tenant protections: 2-year minimum term, annual increases capped to the lesser of URA or IPC, and a yearly winter freeze on eviction execution (1 Apr - 15 Dec)
  • Healthy furnished short-term market (Airbnb, serviced apartments) makes a soft landing easy before signing a long lease
  • Traditional-regime cash guarantees are placed in mortgage bonds at the Banco Hipotecario del Uruguay (BHU), a neutral third party, rather than held directly by the landlord
  • Mature, searchable listing portals (InfoCasas, Gallito, Mercado Libre) with furnished/unfurnished and neighborhood filters

Watch out for

  • The garantía requirement is the main hurdle for foreigners with no local property-owning co-signer; expect to pay for institutional guarantees (ANDA ~3%/month) or surety insurance (roughly 50-90% of one month's rent per year)
  • The standard 2-year (+1) minimum lease is long for anyone unsure they will stay; the flexible LUC no-guarantee contract or a furnished short-term rental are the usual workarounds
  • Upfront costs stack up: first month, the chosen guarantee, and often a ~1-month agency commission plus 22% VAT
  • Advertised rent excludes gastos comunes (common expenses), which can add a large amount, especially in serviced buildings and in Punta del Este

Where to look

InfoCasas (infocasas.com.uy)Gallito (gallito.com.uy)Mercado Libre Inmuebles (mercadolibre.com.uy)Airbnb (furnished / short-term)

Platforms are listed for orientation only — we don't endorse or rank them.

Renting in Uruguay: FAQ

Renting in Uruguay: FAQ

How much deposit do I need to rent in Uruguay?

There's no single published norm — deposits vary by landlord. Expect at least one month's rent held as security, plus the first month upfront, plus any agency fee (real estate agency commission is commonly around one month's rent plus 22% vat, typically charged to the incoming tenant when renting through an inmobiliaria. renting directly from an owner can avoid this.).

Do I have to register my address in Uruguay?

Address registration isn't a general requirement for short-stay residents here, but check whether your specific visa or a bank needs proof of address.

Can I find furnished or short-term rentals in Uruguay?

Furnished + unfurnished and the mid-term market nomads rely on is strong mid-term market. Start your search on InfoCasas (infocasas.com.uy), Gallito (gallito.com.uy), Mercado Libre Inmuebles (mercadolibre.com.uy).

Sources