In Australia we have a fairly efficient rental system. The bond paid is one months rent. It is paid to a legislative instument called the rental bond board, the 'keeper' of the bond. Contracts are clear and there is a standard contract used by all leases. The standard contract keeps legal costs low when there is a dispute because the legal system already understands the contract and so do the lawyers. Finally, the legal system is quick to respond, is impartial and without extensive delays and costs. Finally, the owner of the property takes out 'rental insurance' which covers tenant property damage. The premiums are very low.
Here in Argentina it would seem that there is no standard rental contract nor is there a 'rental bond board'. I could be wrong but from personal experience I have signed two different rental leases over the last 4 years and both were quite different in content and purpose. Both times I had to engage the services of a lawyer to ensure that the contract was legit.
The lack of a standard contract increases legal costs as each contract is quite different which leads to complexities when renting and when resolving disputes. Further, the guarantee of an unencumbered property or a substancial financial deposit is required to overcome legal inefficiencies and delays. e.g. I can stop paying rent in my current BA rental and live here happily for 12-24 months until the legal system kicks in to throw me out. The legal costs will be huge for the owner, I would lose my deposit or my guarantor would be hit for huge costs... either way, it would be expensive and painful for all involved.
In my opinion, The proposed changes are not really solving the core problem which is an inefficient legal system. If Argentines really wanted to resolve the rental problem once and for all they would standardise rental contracts, ensure that disputes were handled efficiently. By implementing strategies that reduce cost they would allow the system to 'auto correct' itself over time.
