Housing glossary

Useful housing related words in Spanish

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


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