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RENTING IN SANTIAGO

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Knowing567
  2/10/2019 13:24 EST

I found this info:
Long term renters (6 months to 1 year +) should be aware that it is common in Santiago to be asked for several documents before signing the lease, including employment contracts, so if you are a digital nomad, self-employed, or an entrepreneur, it may be difficult to go down this route. These requisites can often include:

Work contract
Last 12 AFP payments/certificate (Chilean pension)
Last 3-12 wage statements
Proof of income, or proof of ability to pay 3 months rent in advance
Aval (I believe this is a Chilean company that acts as a guarantor. Please correct me if I’m wrong)
Cedula (National ID card) & RUT (Tax ID number)
DICOM report (credit reporting agency)
So yeah….paperwork….

On a side note, we’ve never had to provide any of these documents as we always rented short-term apartments, so don’t freak out if you are a tourist, temporary resident or otherwise NOT a Chilean or foreigner living and working full-time in Chile."

It seems that the solution for when you arrive for the very first time in Chile is to "rent short-term apartments" since you do not have cedula nor RUT. Is that correct?

Also it seems impossible for the real estate agency to answer to an email. Should we call by Skype?

Should we get a hotel room when we arrive and then go in person to an agency?

PKiri
  2/20/2019 09:27 EST

Hola

Rent an apartment before you arrive, most are same price as a hotels but you can save on meals and laundry etc. Then start looking.

We didn't use an agency, we caught the metro then walked around the neighborhoods we wanted to live in - (new) Providencia, Nunoa, Las Condes, and Vitacura are good areas, and then asked the concierge if there was availability. Most have notice boards or websites. Purchase a Chile SIM pre-pay with a good internet data package when you arrive.

We rent a 2 bed 2 bath in Nunoa with a balcony, car park and secure storage room (bodega) that costs $450,000 CLP rent and $80-90,000CLP commune/building costs per month. Your water, power/gas are separate to this but its minimal maybe $20,000 per month total. The entry is secure with a 24hr concierge, there is a pool, gym, a communal BBQ area. and a new metro station/line 3 only 10 min walk away.

You need proof of work or salary but it doesn't need to be a Chile contract. You will only have AFP if you work in Chile. An international contract is ok. I work remotely for my NZ company, I gave a copy of this and showed the payments of salary into my bank account.

I have not heard of Aval but if you need a guarantor check it out. We negotiated paying rent 2 months in advance every month so did not need one.

If you don't have a residency or work visa you won't have a RUT or Chile ID. Mine took 5 months to sort, it's a long drawn out paper based process involving many government agencies and entire days waiting in queues. Your passport will be your ID until then but you do not exist in Chile without a RUT. You can't open a bank account, purchase insurance or purchase a phone/internet package without one.

It helps if you are fluent in Spanish when speaking to businesses. However in saying that, Chileno and Spanish are not the same, you'll understand that statement when you arrive if you haven't been here previously. Download WhatsApp if you don't already have it, most businesses use this platform as opposed to email.

Buen suerte!

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