Bolivia situation guide
Before you say yes
Once the place looks right, you read the proposed conditions before accepting or paying anything. Separate the deposit (garantía) from the first month paid in advance, together they are the Bs 5.600 you pay to move in. Keep expensas (included) apart from servicios (luz, agua, internet) that you pay. Confirm the term, start date, the monthly deadline (hasta el día 5) and the method (transferencia). Ask for the inventory attached to the contract, a copy of the contract and a comprobante for each payment. The visit's open points (the humidity and the low water pressure) should be put por escrito (what will be done and by when) and the pressure rechecked before signing. None of this is legal advice: real conditions are checked in the written contract and, when needed, with a qualified local professional.
Essential vocabulary
- garantía: deposit One month held as a deposit, separate from the first month's rent.
- mes adelantado: first month paid in advance The first month's rent paid up front, added to the deposit makes Bs 5.600.
- expensas: building fees Shared building charges, here included, not the same as your own services.
- servicios: utilities Luz, agua e internet, here ‘por cuenta del inquilino’, i.e. you pay them.
- comprobante: receipt / proof of payment Ask for a comprobante for every payment, plus a copy of the contract.
- inventario: inventory The list of furniture/appliances, ask for it attached to the contract.
- por escrito: in writing Get promised actions (humidity, pressure) recorded por escrito before paying.
- pendiente: pending / outstanding Name what is still pendiente so it is clear before you decide.
Bolivian Spanish terms
- por cuenta del inquilino: paid by the tenant Standard wording in listings/contracts for charges you pay yourself.
- expensas: building fees (Bolivia/Río Plate usage) In Bolivia ‘expensas’ are the building's shared fees, often included, unlike servicios.
- comprobante: payment receipt Keeping each comprobante is your proof of paying rent and deposit.
Useful phrases
- Quisiera que quede por escrito qué se hará con la humedad.: I'd like it put in writing what will be done about the humidity. Request a written commitment without diagnosing the cause.
- ¿Me puede entregar una copia del contrato y un comprobante por cada pago?: Can you give me a copy of the contract and a receipt for each payment? Ask for the two documents every renter should keep.
- Antes de firmar, quisiera volver a comprobar la presión de agua.: Before signing, I'd like to recheck the water pressure. Turn a visit observation into a concrete step before committing.
- El alquiler y las fechas están confirmados; la humedad y la presión siguen pendientes.: Rent and dates are confirmed; humidity and pressure are still pending. Summarize by separating confirmed terms from pending points.
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Rent an Apartment in Santa Cruz, Practical Spanish