Terms & Conditions

Services Provided

The rental paid for the apartment during the contracted time includes the following:

	Use of the apartment by the persons and days stated in the reservation request.
	Reasonable use of utilities (electricity, water, heat and air-conditioning, cable TV, Internet access, incoming telephone access, limited outgoing telephone access). The availability of these services is generally quite reliable, but may not be to the level you are accustomed to in your home country. Temporary outages are not cause for premature termination of the rental contract, unless they are prolonged or severe enough as to render the apartment uninhabitable.
	Use of kitchen utensils, linens, and household items (e.g., iron and ironing board) provided. Kitchen utensils are expected to be left clean at the end of the stay.

It does not include:

	Tourism and guide services (we will try to be as helpful as we can and our information sheet has a lot of useful information on area restaurants, etc., but in general we are not equipped to provide individualized guide or concierge services).
	Toiletries and other consumables such as soap, shampoo, etc. Besides, we find that most people prefer to bring their own brands anyway.
	Consumable food items.
	Laundry services. (Note that two clean sets of sheets and four clean sets of towels are provided. For longer stays, guests are responsible for laundry of sheets and towels, but there are two inexpensive full-service facilities literally steps away from the apartment. We do ask that guests leave at least one clean set of sheets and two clean sets of towels at the end of the stay, in case there is a check-in on the same day as they are checking out.)

Checkin and Checkout

Checkin time is 2 pm on the first date of the contract, and checkout time is 10 am on the last date of the contract, unless other arrangements have been agreed upon in writing.

Use of Apartment by Third Parties

One of the benefits of having an apartment rather than a hotel room is that you can treat it, for the most part, like your own home, including having visitors and entertaining friends. However, there are certain limitations, largely within the realm of common sense, that you are expected to observe:

	Sub-lease of the apartment or accepting payment from third parties for the use of the apartment is expressly prohibited.
	Use of the apartment by occasional guests known to you is permitted, if in your presence the entire time. Extended visits by third parties (more than 1 or 2 days) requires prior authorization.

Security Deposits

A security deposit of half month's rent is necessary to secure the reservation. Security deposits may be paid in cash in Buenos Aires, or by PayPal, or by wire transfer to a US bank. In certain cases with sufficient advance reservation, personal cheques drawn on US banks may be accepted as a security deposit.

Security deposits are generally returned within 48 hours of checkout or less. If it is returned by mail, there will be additional mailing time. If damage is extensive enough to require an estimate, additional time may be needed to secure the estimate. The renter's liability is not limited to the amount of the security deposit and renter agrees to pay additional costs that may be incurred in the event of more extensive damage or loss caused by the renter.

Additional information on payment and return of the security deposit is provided in the FAQ.

Cancellation Fee

Once the reservation has been confirmed (via email after your security deposit has been received), cancellations are subject to the following fees.

Notification 3 months or more in advance: US $25 administrative charge
Notification 1-3 months in advance: 50% of rental or 100% of deposit (whichever is less)
Notification less than 1 month in advance: 100% of rental or deposit (whichever is less)

Refunds, if any, are returned in the same manner as return of the security deposit at the end of the rental, and are generally processed within 72 hours of confirmation of the cancellation request.

Rental Payments

Payment for the entire rental is expected at or prior to check-in in cash in US dollars (Euros or Argentine Pesos may also be accepted), unless other arrangements have been made. The security deposit may not be applied by the renter to rental payments.

"Apartment Not as Expected"

The apartment is described as accurately as reasonably possible within the pages of this website. If you have specific standards or requirements for your vacation residence that are not sufficiently described here and could not be clarified adequately by the owner, we suggest you view, or get someone to view on your behalf, the apartment prior to making the reservation, and/or to request references from prior guests. We cannot give refunds upon your arrival. (No guest has been anything less than thrilled with the apartment to date, and we are confident you will too, but we do need to put this clause in!)

Unavailability of Rental Property

If the Rental Property becomes unavailable through reasons outside of the control of the owner, he will make his best effort to provide suitable alternative accommodation. If alternative accommodation cannot be obtained, or is not acceptable to the renter, or the renter wishes to find his own alternative accommodation, the full amount of the deposit shall be refunded. The owner shall have no liability for any other direct or indirect losses to the renter.

Repair and Service Calls

The owner does not guarantee against mechanical failure of heating, televisions, DVD players or other appliances. The guest agrees to report any inoperative equipment to the owner promptly and the owner will make every effort to have maintenance done quickly and efficiently. Should a repair person make a call to the apartment and find that the equipment is in working order and the problem was due to tenant oversight, the charge for the service call will be billed to the guest, who agree to pay the charge. No refund or rent deduction will be made owing to failure of heating or air-conditioning, television, audio or video equipment, Internet access, telephone, cell phone, computers or other appliances. Nor can the owner accept any liability for loss of use or goods due to a disruption of services such electricity, gas, internet connection or water.

Theft and Security

The owner has made every attempt to provide safe and secure accommodation. However, as in any large city, the guest should exercise prudence and good judgement regarding the security of his goods and person. It is recommended that you not carry the apartment address with the keys, in case of loss or theft of the keys, nor let strangers into the building regardless of the pretext. No liability is accepted by the owner for any injury or loss of any property caused by theft or other criminal activity, even if it occurs on the property.

Cleaning and Maid Services

The apartment is, of course, professionally cleaned and serviced prior to each new rental. In addition, a weekly maid service is provided for rentals of 10 days or more. It is not necessary to pay the maid or provide a tip, unless she provides additional services at your request (e.g., ironing clothes) that are not listed below.

Maid service includes:

	Cleaning of surfaces in all rooms
	Cleaning the bathroom and kitchen
	Vacuuming and/or mopping the floors
	Cleaning windows as necessary
	Changing of towels and sheets upon request

Maid service does not include the following (which are the responsibility of the renter):

	Washing of dishes, pots and pans or cooking utensils
	Personal laundry or cleaning of any of renters' personal items
	Daily disposal of trash in the receptacles provided in the building

Care of Apartment

Renter agrees that each time he leaves the apartment he will:

	Turn off lights, air-conditioners and heaters. This saves energy and helps lower our costs and yours. Buenos Aires does not get extremely hot or cold and the air-conditioners and heaters do their job rapidly once you are back in the apartment.
	Securely close the balcony door (also at night upon retiring). The nice wide doors are very pleasant but they will let in rain-water which will damage the original wood floors (which damage will be assessed to the renter).

In general, please treat the apartment as you would your home. It is your home during your stay, and will be someone else's home after you leave!

Charges for Damage or Missing Items

An inventory sheet of items provided with the apartment is provided upon checkin, which was verified after the prior checkout. You are responsible for any items missing, damaged or broken during the course of your stay. If you find a discrepancy or inaccuracy in the inventory sheet, or any pre-existing damage within the apartment or non-functioning appliances, please notify us within 12 hours of occupying the apartment. The replacement costs of most small items are shown on the inventory sheet. They may be more than the retail cost to cover the effort of procuring replacements (you are welcome to find an exact replacement yourself to avoid the cost). Costs of damage to larger appliances or furniture are charged at the retail repair cost plus US$50 service fee.

Charges for Overstay

The charge for overstaying the contracted rental period without prior authorization (i.e., refusal to vacate) is US$200 per day or fraction thereof.

No Smoking and No Pets

This apartment is a non-smoking apartment, which means that neither the renter(s) nor any guest(s) may smoke inside the apartment, nor on the balcony, nor discard smoking materials within the apartment. We accept that this is an attractive condition to non-smokers, and a serious limitation to smokers. Nor may any pets be housed or brought into the apartment, even temporarily, by the renter(s) nor by any guest(s). We have refurbished the whole apartment and do not wish to compromise that status.

A minimum US$200 cleaning and deodorizing fee will be charged for any evidence of smoking or pets, plus any costs associated with replacing linens or upholstery with cigarette burns or odours, and the contract will be terminated immediately without refund.