Rent in Brazil

Hello there! Are you looking for a place to stay in Brazil? Perhaps in Rio de Janeiro? Our Dica today will show you how to Rent in Brazil. You’ll learn about the process itself and tips about how to do it properly. If you lived in Brazil, would you look for the apartments for rent in Rio de Janeiro monthly or annually? Do you think rent in Rio de Janeiro is cheap or expensive? Do you think you can get a discount if you have a long-term rental? Are there any dangers into looking for cheap apartments to rent in Brazil? Well, we will answer these and other questions you might have. You will get to know a lot of different vocabulary today, so pay attention and be ready!

How to Rent in Brazil

There are three different ways of renting an apartment:

• private rental with the owner himself;
• assisted private rentals with the help of an agency;
• short-term rentals: this is often used for anything that you rent for less than 30 months, being very common for foreigners in Brazil.

There are several ways to find a place to rent. The Stone Age way 😛 could be to search in the classifieds of a newspaper like O Globo. You can also go directly to a real estate agency, and they will show you some of their available properties. But, nowadays, most people use websites and apps to find apartments. In these places you can find people that are disclosing their houses and apartments for rental, and you have the support of the website/app. Some famous ones are: Quinto Andar, Classificados OLX or ZapImóveis.

What do you Need to Rent in Brazil?

When looking for houses in Brazil to rent, for a long term or short term, you have some things you need to do first. Most landlords require that you make a three-months’ rent deposit as a guarantee for a long-term rental in Rio de Janeiro, for example. But, for short terms, it’s usually required just a monthly payment. It’s also expected from the renter to pay for your own utilities, such as electrical bills, water, and the condomínio, a fee for when you live in an apartment inside a condo. There are also taxes, called IPTU that you may have to pay when you are looking for Brazil houses to rent. Long-terms typically require a local co-signer or proof of a vast work history.

Guarantees when Renting an Apartment

For you to rent an apartment, it is important to show guarantees that you can pay for it. These guarantees can be Insurance, Security Deposit or a Co-signer.

Seguro Fiança, ou Insurance – some insurance companies such as Porto Seguro or BB Seguro Residêncial offer a guarantee service through proof of income. You’ll have to present a salary slip and to pay a non-repayable annual fee in the amount of one or two months’ rent, depending on the contract. But it isn’t easy to apply for if you aren’t living in Brazil or working for a Brazilian company.

Depósito Caução, ou Security Deposit – fee paid to guarantee the apartment rental. This fee may be two or three months’ rent, depending on the contract. The fee shall be deposited in a savings account separated from the owner’s account, and at the end of the contract it returns to the renter with interest. Be aware that the money is returned correctly. It may happen that the owner does not return the interest or make excuses not to give the money back. It may be the best option for when you’re moving to Brazil for a short time.

Fiador, ou Co-signer – You’ll have to find a person to take financial responsibility in case something happens. When you’re new in Brazil, finding a co-signer is hard, so another option would be to rent an apartment with a Brazilian, so you take the opportunity to practice Portuguese.

If you want to share apartments, websites such as EasyQuarto or AirBnB may be useful. Besides that, our school offers several accommodations so that you can learn Portuguese by living. You’ll be place in one of our host families or carioca people and will be able to start practicing Portuguese right away.

Average Cost of Rent in Rio de Janeiro

If you have no idea how much you’ll be paying monthly for an apartment, check out this small guide about the average cost in Rio de Janeiro:

Without talking Portuguese, you may fall victim to a scam, so it’s best that you communicate in Portuguese and try to learn a bit about Brazilian culture, as you may end up paying more than you should for something. Also, always pay attention to the surroundings of the areas you want to rent. Unfortunately, you need to see if there are any favelas with active criminal activity, if there are high levels of robbery and so on. We don’t advise you to look further than middle class areas such as we mentioned above. You can find some pretty cheap apartments for rent in Brazil, but they are not worthy all the headache and danger you might have to pass through! Daily at Rio & Learn we help our students learn Portuguese and know the customs in Brazil. This way they can have tools to get around just like any Brazilian.

Rent Vocabulary in Brazil

Taxa de condomínio – condomínio is a set of common properties of several people, and taxa de condomínio is a fee each apartment should pay related to the ordinary expenses, such as: maintenance of facilities, porter salary, proper operation of common areas (gym, pool and others).

IPTU – Real State Tax and Urban Land. It’s a tax paid to the government by people who own a property. The taxa de condomínio and the IPTU may influence the price of the rent. It’s important to pay attention to the total you will have to pay.

Localização – one of the most essential things is where the apartment is located. There are apartments in very good neighborhoods that are very close to dangerous areas. Keep your eyes open, so you don’t to have any surprises.

Vizinhos – it’s always good to know what kind of neighbors you’ll have and what the neighborhood is like. It’s equally important to respect the local rules.

Construções – it is possible to find constructions next to the apartment you want to rent. Noise and visual pollution generated by them might be trouble. Keep a close watch, because Brazil is a noisy country, and it’s very important to know that before signing the contract.

Eletricidade – check if the electrical part of the apartment is ok. See if the lights and outlets are working properly.

Água – The water, always ask if the plumbing is up-to-date. Look for infiltration marks such as stains on the walls or darker areas. It’s also good to check if the taps and shower are working properly.

Móveis – When renting a furnished apartment, check if all the pieces of furniture are in good conditions and all electronic devices are working, otherwise, when leaving the apartment, the owner may charge you to pay for something broken that was not your fault.

Contas Mensais – it’s indispensable to pay the electricity, water and gas bills (in case there are), and it can be done with a boleto (bank slip) in banks or lottery retailers. The rent, sometimes, can be paid by a deposit in the owner’s account. Pay attention, since Brazilian banks are open from Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Remember to arrive early, for the lines are long.

Imobiliária – The agency where you may look for an apartment or house. Imobiliário is the person who can sell or rent houses.

Aluguel Temporário – Temporary renting, that’s ideal for when you’re looking for a better place, but you need somewhere to live while you do that.

Exercise About Rent in Brazil

Now you already know all the vocabulary and everything there is to know about Brazil homes for rent! What about we test your knowledge on it with a little exercise in Portuguese? I am sure when you go looking for rent in Brazil this will help you a lot!

Well, folks! We hope these tips on how to rent an apartment in Brazil help you find some something really nice. And remember, if you have any trouble with Portuguese, count on us. Our doors are always open for you.

See you on our next Dica!
Big hug from Rio de Janeiro!

    
Click on the links below to see more related Dicas
Houses in Portuguese
 Parts of the House in Portuguese
Living Room in Portuguese
Bedroom in Portuguese