Foreign owners can rent out Argentine property. Since the old rental law was repealed in December 2023, landlord and tenant agree freely on currency, term, and price adjustments. Short-term rentals in Buenos Aires must be registered with the city. Rent paid to an owner living abroad is normally subject to Argentine income tax withholding of about 21% of the gross rent.
Last updated September 24, 2026 · Part of the Investment guide
The rental market since the 2023 deregulation
Decree DNU 70/2023 repealed the 2020 rental law (Ley 27.551), and rentals are now governed by the general rules of the Civil and Commercial Code. Unlike the repeal of the land law, this change has not been suspended by the courts.
| Topic | Rule today |
|---|---|
| Currency | Free choice: pesos or US dollars, by agreement. |
| Term | Freely agreed. If the contract says nothing, a default of 2 years (housing) applies, but it is not a minimum. |
| Price adjustment | Freely agreed: inflation index, fixed steps, or a dollar reference. The old mandatory index no longer applies. |
| Contracts signed before December 29, 2023 | Keep the old rules (3-year term, annual index) until they expire. |
| Registration with ARCA (RELI) | The general obligation to register rental contracts was eliminated in August 2024. |
Short-term and tourist rentals in Buenos Aires
The City of Buenos Aires requires owners and platforms to register temporary tourist rentals in the city's registry (Ley 6.255). Registration is free and online. Separately, many buildings restrict short stays in their regulations, so check the building rules before you buy for Airbnb-style income. Other cities and provinces have their own rules; ask locally in Bariloche, Mendoza, or Córdoba.
In the border security zone, leasing property to foreigners also requires prior approval from the Ministry of the Interior, not only selling it. This matters for long-term rentals in parts of Patagonia; see Can foreigners buy land in Argentina?.
How rent is taxed when you live abroad
When an Argentine tenant or agent pays rent to an owner living abroad, Argentine income tax is withheld at source as a final payment. The law presumes a net income of 60% of the gross rent and applies 35% to it, which works out to about 21% of the gross rent. A tax treaty with your country (Canada and the UK have one, the US does not) can affect the rate.
A 2026 reform exempted rent from homes let as the tenant's main residence from income tax, but the implementing decree only spells out the exemption for landlords in general terms, unlike the sale exemption, which names non-residents explicitly. Until this is clarified, foreign owners should assume the withholding still applies and confirm with an Argentine accountant.
- Owners also pay the annual property tax (in Buenos Aires, the ABL bill) and building expenses.
- Non-resident owners are subject to the wealth tax (Bienes Personales) on the property, paid through a local substitute taxpayer; a rate of 0.5% of the fiscal value is commonly cited. Holding the property through a foreign company doubles that rate.
- Your home country taxes the rent too; see the guides for American, Canadian, and UK owners.
Running a rental from abroad
Most foreign owners use a local property manager. Before signing one, check:
- Their fee (commonly a percentage of rent) and what it covers: guests, cleaning, repairs, tax withholding.
- How and in which currency rent reaches you, and who issues invoices.
- Who acts as your local representative for taxes.
- Insurance, inventory, and the deposit rules in the lease.
Questions buyers ask
Can I rent my Argentine apartment in US dollars?
Yes. Since December 2023 landlord and tenant can agree on rent in pesos or foreign currency.
Do I need to register my Airbnb in Buenos Aires?
Yes. Temporary tourist rentals in the City of Buenos Aires must be registered in the city's registry, and the building rules must allow them.
How much tax do I pay on rent as a non-resident?
Usually about 21% of the gross rent, withheld at source (35% on a presumed net of 60%). Confirm with an accountant, since a 2026 exemption for residential rentals may or may not reach non-residents.