For expats moving to Peru renting accommodation can be a challenge, especially if your grasp of Spanish is the little you remember from high school. Here we have listed some common phrases and words to help you along.
Alquiler - The rental agreement between landlord and tenant
Apartamento/Piso - Apartment
Arrendador - Landlord/owner
Arrendatario - Tenant
Aseo - Bathroom for visitors
Boleto - Sales agreement between buyer and owner
Cadena de titularidades - History of ownership
Campo - Land
Compra-venta - The sales agreement. In this agreement the buyer agrees to pay an amount in exchange of the ownership title
Dependencia - A small room which is normally inhabited by personnel
Desalojo - Eviction. Only a judge can order this
Escribano - Notary. Without a notary it is not possible to register the property on your name at the register. If you want a mortgage you will also need a notary.
Salon comedor - Dining room or a room close to the kitchen
Fiador - The person that guarantees the tenant’s payments to the landlord. Also called a garante
Fianza - The contract in which a third person known as garante/fiador takes responsibility for the tenants payments to the landlord
Garante - The person that guarantees the tenant’s payments to the landlord. Also called fiador
Hipoteca - Mortgage
Inquilino - Tenant
Informe de dominio - Statement covering the exact dimensions and financial situation of the premises
Informe de inhibiciones - Statement whether or not the owner is allowed to sell
Locador - Landlord/owner
Locatario - Tenant, term used in contracts
Mantenimiento - Maintenance
Notario - Also called escribano, notary public. Without a notary it is not possible to register the property on your name at the register. If you want a mortgage you will also need a Notary
Propiedad horizontal (PH) - Housing in which the owners share certain attributes like stairs and main entrance and also have private property like patios. It is best to be compared with an old house in which several small houses are built
Propietario - Owner
Quinta - Country house, originally for weekend retreats and found in the outskirts of cities
Registro de Propiedad - Office where ownership titles are registered
Reserva de compra - Down-payment that has to be made by potential buyers in order to make an offer on a premises
Salon - Television room, playroom or living room
Subasta - Auction
Suite - Master bedroom with individual bathroom