The debate is advancing to unblock the rent law

The Chamber of Deputies is preparing to once again discuss the controversial Rent Law which has been in effect for two years and despite much criticism, it is still stuck in Congress.

The General Legislation and Budget Committees have been convened today to discuss two positions with substantial divergences: on the one hand, The Fronte di Tutti proposes to keep the norm voted three years ago which includes the three-year contracts and the annual update of the fees according to an index (ICL) prepared by the Central Bank. And on the other, Together for change and Federal Interlock they seek to reach a single opinion to promote their proposed changes to the legislation such as the reduction of the duration of the contract to two years and the free agreement of increases between the parties.

The only coincidences between the positions have to do with the Tax benefits: allow landlords who rent their homes for 15 years not to pay for Personal Goods, even with a maximum amount of $ 30 million, and single-tax payers.

The current consensus is that the rental market You have to increase the offer. It happens that, since the new law came into force (July 2020), many properties have been withdrawn from the localization market due to the uncertainty it generates among owners.

“We really hope that the blocs that make up the opposition agree why there is no merchandise to offer”, Says Marta Liotto, president of the Real Estate Professional College (CPI). According to the directive, “The few people who approach real estate ask if there are properties for rent. The only thing there is the studios, which do not serve to satisfy the demand of the family group, ”says Liotto.

The real estate sector therefore hopes that the opposition blocs will reach a unified minority opinion, since the Frente de Todos has the numbers to impose a majority. After signing the opinion, lawmakers will be able to discuss the project on the spot.

The meeting of legislators – scheduled for the morning – «is a good opportunity to unblock the issue because we have been behind it for two years without being able to resolve it. Meanwhile, prices are growing enormously: we are end of June with a 56% increase “Liotto recalled.

Real estate companies are anxiously awaiting the changes desired by the two opposing blocs because “the ruling party wants to tighten controls but the market only flows if there is free agreement between owners and tenants”, repeats the CPI representative.

Instead, from Grouped tenantsGervasio Muñoz, summarizes his expectations regarding the next meeting of legislators: “I hope that, despite the fact that the half penalty for the modification of the rent law has been reached, the State will fulfill its obligation and check compliance with the law still in force. force, and which will be until 2024 when it can be discussed in the Senate “.

“The worst for nine million tenants in Argentina, is that renting a house is the law of the jungle, or the law of real estate. We will continue to defend the three-year term, the annual update, and the opposition must explain how it benefits tenants to have shorter contracts and uncontrolled increases every six months, “the leader said.