Discovering Brazil

In this type of property, rent usually includes:  Condominium fee  City taxes

 Electricity and water  One parking place  Limited cable TV. A more complete cable TV package and internet services often are

not included but might be provided by a supplier, if requested  Telephone is normally available but bills will be paid separately

Maintaining a Rental Property The following information will be helpful in managing all aspects of a rented property. Use the property for the sole proposes stipulated in the contract. Subletting is not accepted without a written agreement from the landlord. All bills and taxes paid during your stay should be delivered to the landlord when you terminate the leasing. This typically includes: electricity, water (if it is a house), gas, telephone, IPTU (city tax) and condominium fees. The owners generally prefer, and in some cases insist, on the original bills. The reason is if they need proof of the payment in the future, they will need the original documents. The first bills you will receive at the property – like electricity or gas – will show a consumption total that partially includes consumption by the previous tenant. If your contract starts at the beginning of a month, the payment of the bill must be proportional to the number of days you and the previous tenant were in. There are different ways to handle the payment of the utility:  You can pay the bill in full and ask the landlord for reimbursement (which will ultimately be requested from the previous tenant)  Another way is to pay it and deduct the value of the previous tenant’s consumption from the amount of the rental - In this case you should notify the landlord that this is how you would like to be reimbursed  At the end of the contract, the same situation will occur and bills will arrive after you have left the property. In this case you should have a provision for that when the landlord asks for reimbursement If you wish to modify the property in any way, you should notify your landlord either in person or over the phone and in writing. Your landlord must authorize any changes in writing before you proceed. If any accident or damage occurs to a piece of furniture (in furnished rentals) or to walls, floor or wall tiles, wardrobes, closets, wooden parts like windows or doors, roof tiles, and others, it should be immediately notified to the landlord in writing. Even if you are not at fault for the damage, notify the landlord of any irregularity.

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Discovering Brazil