Portuguese phrases for apartment rental questions

Introduction

Renting an apartment in Brazil involves specific vocabulary and simple questions you can use right away. This article teaches beginner-friendly Brazilian Portuguese phrases for apartment rental questions, explains key words, gives practical examples, and offers short dialogues for real situations like visiting an apartment, talking to a landlord, or messaging about a listing.

Why learn these phrases?

When looking for an apartment, clear communication saves time and avoids misunderstandings. Learning basic Portuguese rental phrases helps you ask about price, location, contract terms, utilities, and move-in details. For beginners, focus on short questions and polite replies you can use in person, by phone, or by message.

Essential rental vocabulary

Below are common words you will see in listings or hear from landlords and real estate agents. The first appearance of each main Portuguese term is highlighted.

aluguel — rent

condomínio — building fee or condo fee

iptu — property tax (paid annually)

garagem — garage or parking space

mobiliado — furnished

não mobiliado — unfurnished

entrada — down payment or front door depending on context (here: down payment)

fiador — guarantor (person who guarantees the contract)

seguro-fiança — rental insurance (alternative to fiador)

prazo — term or duration (of contract)

visita — viewing or visit

Common questions to ask when inquiring

Use these short, clear questions when you contact a landlord or visit a property. First appearance is in bold; repeated versions use emphasis.

O apartamento ainda está disponível? — Is the apartment still available?

O apartamento ainda está disponível?

Qual é o valor do aluguel? — What is the rent price?

Qual é o valor do aluguel?

O condomínio está incluído? — Is the condo fee included?

O IPTU está incluído? — Is the property tax included?

Tem garagem? — Is there a parking space?

O apartamento é mobiliado? — Is the apartment furnished?

Qual o prazo do contrato? — What is the lease term?

Precisa de fiador ou seguro-fiança? — Do I need a guarantor or rental insurance?

Quando posso visitar? — When can I visit?

Posso levar meu pet? — Can I bring my pet?

Polite phrases and short replies

Politeness matters. These brief replies help you sound natural.

Sim, está disponível. — Yes, it is available.

Não, já foi alugado. — No, it has already been rented.

O aluguel é R$ 1.800 por mês. — The rent is R$1,800 per month.

O condomínio é R$ 400 e não está incluso. — The condo fee is R$400 and is not included.

Tem uma vaga na garagem. — There is one parking space.

É mobiliado / não é mobiliado. — It is furnished / it is not furnished.

Precisamos de fiador ou seguro-fiança. — We need a guarantor or rental insurance.

Você pode visitar amanhã às 10h? — Can you visit tomorrow at 10 AM?

Sim, pode trazer o pet. — Yes, you can bring the pet.

Short realistic dialogue: messaging a landlord

These short messages reflect a typical conversation by WhatsApp or email.

Inquilino: Boa tarde, o apartamento na Rua das Flores está disponível?

Proprietário: Boa tarde! Sim, está disponível. Quer agendar uma visita?

Inquilino: Sim, posso ver amanhã às 18h?

Proprietário: Tudo bem. O aluguel é R$ 1.200, o condomínio é R$ 350 e tem garagem.

Inquilino: Ótimo, obrigado. Tem fotos dos armários e da cozinha?

Short realistic dialogue: visiting the apartment

Use these lines during an in-person viewing.

Corretor: Olá, bem-vindo. Quer que eu mostre o apartamento?

Você: Sim, obrigada. Quantos quartos tem e tem varanda?

Corretor: São dois quartos e tem uma varanda pequena. A cozinha é equipada.

Você: Qual o prazo do contrato e o valor do depósito?

Corretor: O contrato é de 12 meses e o depósito é um mês de aluguel.

Detailed explanations of key phrases

Breakdown of common questions so you understand grammar and usage.

O apartamento ainda está disponível?
O apartamento — subject; ainda — still; está disponível — is available. Use this first when inquiring about a listing.

Qual é o valor do aluguel?
Qual — which/what; é — is; o valor — the value/amount; do aluguel — of the rent. Add por mês for per month: Qual é o valor do aluguel por mês?

O condomínio está incluído?
This asks whether the condo fee is part of the rent. Many listings separate aluguel and condomínio, so confirm.

Precisa de fiador ou seguro-fiança?
Precisa de — need; fiador — guarantor; seguro-fiança — rental insurance. These are common leasing requirements in Brazil.

Practical tips for beginners

Keep interactions short and clear. Use polite openings like Bom dia or Boa tarde and end with obrigado or obrigada. If you are unsure about a word, use a simple follow-up question to clarify.

When you receive numbers, repeat them back to confirm: Entendi, o aluguel é R$ 1.200, certo? This avoids misunderstandings.

If you prefer messages, start with a concise introduction: Olá, meu nome é Ana. Tenho interesse no apartamento. This helps the landlord identify you.

Learn common contract terms: prazo (term), depósito (deposit), reajuste (rent adjustment), e multa (penalty). Ask for the contract to be explained: Pode explicar o contrato, por favor?

Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them

Mixing up condomínio and imóvel can cause confusion. Condomínio is the monthly building fee; imóvel means property. Double-check which fees are included.

Assuming price formatting. In Brazil, prices may be shown with comma separators: R$ 1.200,00 means one thousand two hundred reais. Repeat the price orally to ensure clarity.

Not confirming utilities. Ask Quem paga a água e a luz? — Who pays the water and electricity? Many places include water or building services, while electricity and gas are usually separate.

Useful additional phrases for follow-up

Posso enviar meus documentos por e-mail? — Can I send my documents by email?

Quais documentos são necessários? — Which documents are required?

Quando posso mudar? — When can I move in?

Tem internet incluída? — Is internet included?

Tem elevador? — Is there an elevator?

Examples of documents and how to ask about them

Common documents: CPF (tax id), carteira de trabalho (work card), comprovante de renda (proof of income), comprovante de residência (proof of address). Ask politely:

Quais documentos vocês pedem para o contrato? — Which documents do you ask for the contract?

Posso pagar o depósito em duas vezes? — Can I pay the deposit in two installments?

Practical scenario: negotiating terms

Simple phrases for negotiating price or terms without sounding confrontational.

O proprietário aceita R$ 1.500? — Does the owner accept R$1,500?

Podemos reduzir o depósito para metade? — Can we reduce the deposit to half?

Prefiro contrato de 6 meses em vez de 12. É possível? — I prefer a 6-month contract instead of 12. Is that possible?

Use softeners like por favor and talvez to stay polite: Por favor, tem como negociar o valor?

Short checklist before signing

Ask these quick questions before you sign a lease.

Tem algum problema com umidade ou mofo? — Any humidity or mold problems?

As janelas têm telas ou grades? — Do the windows have screens or bars?

O condomínio permite reformas? — Does the condo allow renovations?

Como são os horários de silêncio no prédio? — What are the building quiet hours?

Where to practice these phrases

Practice with language exchange partners, friends who speak Brazilian Portuguese, or by roleplaying messages and short dialogues. Use WhatsApp to compose short, real messages to landlords and read listings to identify vocabulary.

Conclusion

Learning key Brazilian Portuguese phrases for apartment rental questions makes searching and renting much easier. With basic vocabulary, polite questions, and short dialogues shown here, beginners can handle viewings, messages, and simple negotiations confidently. Start with the essential phrases, practice the short dialogues, and always confirm numbers and contract terms before signing.