Renting a house in Peru isn’t easy. But these warnings for tenants in the Sacred Valley can help!
By Chere Di Boscio
Renting a house in the Sacred Valley can be quite a daunting task. You’ll need to open a local bank account, or be prepared to pay cash every month, for starters. In addition, since there are no estate agents to speak of, you’ll need to know which area you want to live in, and do a search on Facebook or Whatsapp groups to see what’s available.
Then, you’ll have to find a place that lives up to your expectations. For most foreigners, that’s not easy! Most houses come unfurnished, which means you’ll have to make some costly trips to Cusco for furniture you’re not likely to use for years to come.
It’s also not unusual to find houses with bathrooms outside the main edifice, or with dodgy electric showers. And wonky construction is, unfortunately, pretty much the norm.
‘Gringo’ Prices
Moreover, it’s insane how wildly rent prices can vary. I’ve had friends who have rented very decent – though rustic – houses for around 800 soles a month, unfurnished, while others have rented fully furnished houses in the exact same area for over 4,000 soles a month. That’s just crazy!
The truth is, one of my top warnings for tenants in the Sacred Valley is to do some serious research on rental prices. Many people come here from European countries with high costs of living and get fooled. For example, I myself came here from one of the costliest capitals on Earth – London. In that city, a one bedroom flat (apartment) in a good area can go for around $3,000 USD. So when I was offered a whole house with a garden here for $1500, I thought: ‘bargain!’
How wrong I was!
That, my friends, is what we call ‘gringo prices’. And making such payments for houses messes up the whole economy. It allows unethical landlords to take advantage of foreigners, and also drives up rental prices for local residents. In short, it’s a lose/lose prospect.
Mi Casa, Tu Casa?
Since there are no estate agencies, it’s difficult to know your rights as a tenant. Few new residents here will know about any kinds of warnings for tenants in the Sacred Valley. And as a result, landlords get away with ripping tenants off far too often.
For example, it’s not uncommon for the house owner to demand two month’s deposit, and then to never return it, no matter how wonderfully you maintained their property. But note this: every property owner renting out a property MUST pay taxes to SUNAT. If they refuse to return your deposit at the end of your rental period, and you believe it’s unjust, you have every right to request payment receipts from SUNAT. If they cannot provide them, they could face fines.
It’s also not that unusual for a landlord to feel like they have the right to use their house whenever they’d like to – even though you’re living in it! I myself have had experience of this when my landlady kicked me out for four days so her nieces from Lima could come and use the house. I stayed in a nearby hotel, and deducted the cost from the rent. However, those nieces ended up stealing jewellery and clothing from me!
I also know of many other people whose landlord has done everything from planted a food garden (for his own personal use only) in the back yard, come to stay in the guest room for weekends, or just entered the property whenever they fancied doing so to ‘check in on things’.
Before renting a house in the Sacred Valley , ensure there’s a clause in your rental contract ensuring your privacy.
Unethical Landlords
There are so many warnings I could give for tenants in the Sacred Valley. Water leaks. Faulty wiring. Broken tiles. Cracking adobe. Broken down appliances. Bugs eating up the beams. But any damage to your house MUST be fixed by the landlord, not you. Unfortunately, most landlords will blame you for the faults and insist that you pay. Or they just might take so long procrastinating, you’ll end up fixing things yourself. But that’s not even the worst of it.
I’ve known several kind folks who have taken it upon themselves to upgrade houses. They’ve found something for, say, 800 soles a month, that could be in better shape. Then they’ve painted the interior, plastered walls, fixed broken windows, planted wonderful gardens, and so on. And as soon as the landlord sees the marvellous improvements, they hike the rent up – without offering to compensate for the work done.
Again, the best way to protect yourself is to have a solid contract with your landlord. If you plan to make any improvements, negotiate these with the home owner first. For example, say what you’re willing to do – but only if you can live there on an extended contract. Say, up to five years, instead of the usual two.
Beware The Neighbours
Before you commit to a rental contract, check out the local neighbourhood. Very, very well! I say this as one of the strongest warnings for tenants in the Sacred Valley, because neighbours can be hell.
I personally learned this the hard way. When I rented my house, it seemed to be ideal. It was surrounded by fields, tranquil, and isolated. Just what I was looking for! Until, that is, I discovered that those fields were to be planted with strawberries. And those strawberries were heavily sprayed with pesticides. Sometimes, every week. It was a nightmare. The chemicals were so toxic, I was afraid to let my cats outside. And at the end of the planting season? The neighbours burned the mountains of pesticide-laced plastic that covered the berries. I had to move!
Friends of mine thought they were also living in a peaceful, quiet area. Until, that is, they discovered the community centre nearby was the hotspot for all local celebrations. That meant literal bombs going off at 7am. Loud music, sometimes until well after 2am. And drunks wandering into their back garden after parties.
In short: it’s a good idea to ask locals about noise and other nuisances before committing to your house.
In Conclusion: My Top Tips For Renting A House In The Sacred Valley
- Ensure you have a contract in place that’s very clear about what is expected from both the tenant and the landlord.
- Check the house thoroughly before you rent. Sometimes, electricity and plumbing are so badly done, they’re downright dangerous!
- Ask around about ‘normal’ prices for a house in your desired area. Anything over around 1500-1800 soles is probably too way much, and paying such high prices will distort the market.
- Know that you will likely have to pay the electric bill, gas and internet separately. You may even have to put them in your name, which can be a huge hassle.
- Look for a house to rent on social media groups like Facebook and Whatsapp.
- Be sure to be clear about pet policies. I guarantee if you don’t want a pet now, you may later! And if your landlord doesn’t allow pets, you should know from the get go.
Do you have any warnings yourself for tenants in the Sacred Valley? Feel free to leave a comment below!
