Utilities and Condominium Fees

When people compare apartments in Brasil, they usually compare rent. The bills that come with the apartment can change the picture. This guide covers the usual monthly costs of a rented apartment, and the questions to ask before you sign.

Arrangements vary between cities, buildings and leases, so treat this as a list of things to check rather than a set of rules.

The monthly picture

A typical apartment rental can involve:

• Rent (aluguel).
• Condominium fee (condomínio), the building's monthly charge.
• Property tax (IPTU), a municipal tax on the property, sometimes passed to the tenant by the lease.
• Electricity (luz).
• Gas (gás), piped or by cylinder.
• Water (água), sometimes included in the condomínio.
• Internet, and perhaps a TV package.

Ask the landlord or agency for recent bills for each one. That is the best guide to what you will actually pay.

The condomínio

In an apartment building, the condomínio pays for the shared parts of the building. It often covers things such as:

• Doormen and building staff.
• Cleaning and maintenance of common areas.
• Elevators and building insurance.
• Common facilities, such as a pool, gym or party room, where they exist.
• Sometimes water, and sometimes gas.

The amount varies a great deal between buildings. A building with full-time doormen, a pool and a gym costs more to run than a small walk-up. Ask:

• How much is the condomínio, and what does it include?
• Has it gone up recently, and are any large works planned?
• Are there extra charges, sometimes called chamada extra, for repairs?
• Who pays what, the owner or the tenant? Your lease should say.

IPTU

IPTU is a municipal property tax. Who pays it is set in the lease; it is common for the lease to pass it to the tenant. Ask for the amount and whether it is paid monthly or in a lump sum. Check your lease and your municipality's site for the details.

Electricity

The local distributor sends the bill. When you move in, the account may need to be transferred into your name or kept in the owner's name; ask the landlord which they prefer. You may need your CPF. See Getting a CPF.

Air conditioning is usually the largest electricity cost in hot months. Ask what recent summer bills looked like. For plugs and voltage, see Voltage, plugs and power outlets.

Gas

Some buildings have piped gas billed by a meter. Others use gas cylinders that are delivered and swapped. Ask which yours uses, and how it is paid.

Internet

Check coverage at the exact address before you sign. Ask neighbors or the doorman which providers serve the building. Installation can take days, so book it early. If you work from home, see Remote work and coworking for backup options.

Paying bills

Bills are often paid by boleto, a payment slip with a barcode, or by Pix. Many people set up automatic debit once they have a local bank account. See Bank accounts and cards abroad.

Before you sign

• Ask for the last few months of each bill.
• Confirm what the condomínio includes, in writing.
• Confirm who pays IPTU.
• Read the meters on move-in day, and photograph them.
• Ask how utility accounts will be handled.

Checklist

1. Add rent, condomínio and IPTU to get the fixed monthly cost.
2. Estimate electricity, gas, water and internet from recent bills.
3. Confirm who pays what in the lease.
4. Photograph meters on move-in day.
5. Book internet installation early.

Common questions

Is the condomínio negotiable? It is set by the building, not the landlord. The rent may be negotiable; the condomínio usually is not.

Who pays for repairs inside the apartment? It depends on the repair and the lease. See Renting an apartment.

Mistakes to avoid

• Comparing rents without the condomínio. Two apartments with the same rent can differ a lot in total cost.
• Not asking who pays IPTU. Find out before you sign.
• Forgetting summer electricity. Air conditioning can change the bill a lot. Ask about the hottest months.
• Skipping the meter photos. A date-stamped photo on move-in day prevents arguments about the first bill.