How do rental contracts and deposits work in Uruguay in 2026?

Expect a Spanish contrato de arrendamiento stating rent currency (pesos in much of Montevideo; dollars more often in Punta del Este summer stock), term, renewal or exit rules, and who pays gastos comunes, UTE, OSE, and ANTEL. Annual adjustments often track inflation indexes; ask which index and when it applies. Traditional protective leases can feel long if you are only testing the country, which is why many movers start furnished and short before signing a multi-year unfurnished deal: How to rent a home.

A more flexible guarantee-light path from the LUC reform era trades some of the old co-signer culture for clearer, faster landlord remedies and different deposit expectations. Confirm which regime your inmobiliaria is using rather than assuming every lease is identical. Photograph the inventory at handover and keep meter photos with dates.

The deposit is usually about one to two months’ rent, receipted, and returned after move-out minus documented damage. Normal wear should not become a silent fee. The garantía is separate: property-owning co-signer, seguro de fianza from insurers such as Porto Seguro or Mapfre-style products, FGA (Fondo de Garantía de Alquileres) through ANV (Agencia Nacional de Vivienda), or several months locked at BHU (Banco Hipotecario del Uruguay). Foreigners with foreign income often use surety insurance or BHU deposits when landlords accept them.

Agency commission commonly approaches one month’s rent plus VAT when you rent through an inmobiliaria, usually charged to the incoming tenant. Add first month, deposit, and guarantee cost into a setup envelope: Montevideo cost of living and How much is rent. Pay through traceable channels after you hold a cédula path and verified ownership trail: Get a cédula, Open a bank account, and Avoid rental scams. Punta del Este seasonal contracts need extra reading on end dates and dollar clauses: Living in Punta del Este.