Renting housing in Uruguay: Part 4. A house in Uruguay: what to consider when choosing.

1. Floor

Most houses here are built on a concrete slab, and if a house has no underfloor heating, the ground floor will most likely have ceramic flooring, with parquet being rare.

In bedrooms and private rooms, parquet, laminate or PVC tile is preferable, as ceramic flooring without heating is uncomfortable in winter.

2. Roof

There are many options: reed, plain sheet metal, isopanel, concrete, wooden roofing and so on. Isopanel has good thermal efficiency; its only drawback is noise, although that is not unique to this covering.

Pay attention to mould or traces of it. If there are wooden elements, they should be properly treated with a protective wood preservative, as termites, in addition to mould, are rampant in some areas.

3. Bedroom

If the bedroom has built-in wardrobes, make sure they are dry. The most comfortable floor covering is parquet or laminate.

Size matters: Uruguayans like micro-bedrooms, so make sure the furniture you need fits and that you can walk around it.

4. Ventilation system

It seems that in the budget-housing segment they do not know such words; for them ventilation means the gap under the front door (which they close with a sand-filled draft excluder in winter), gaps in windows, roller-shutter gaps, and the ability to open windows and doors.

So if you see ventilation openings built into the walls, that is a good sign.

5. Fireplace

Very often a fireplace is an extension on the outside of the house; naturally, it is a decorative element and not something that can heat the home. And even if the fireplace is inside, make sure it has a damper, otherwise it can become a source of cold.

Construction errors that result in smoke buildup, a lack of draught and so on are quite common. If a home has a modern fireplace, it is definitely a major advantage.

6. Heating system

It is very important to make sure that, figuratively speaking, all the beauty of the home will not turn into an ice castle in winter.

Heating is needed in any case, whether it is gas or electric heating, air conditioning, or heaters, but you must clearly understand how you will heat the house in winter and include the corresponding costs in your budget.

In practice, many people switch to air conditioners because they are versatile for winter and summer and provide good heat output.

Oil-filled, gas and quartz “breeze”-type heaters are also often used. During the season, the selection of heaters is very wide.

7. Parking/garage

If you have a car or plan to buy one, pay attention to whether the property has parking or a garage, as on many streets, both in cities and in the suburbs, you should not leave your car overnight if you do not have full (total) insurance and lack the time or willingness to replace its windows.

8. Fencing around the property.

It is advisable to have a fence even if the house is in a very quiet and safe place; it will protect you from the droppings of animals that wander in by chance.

If the area is not as peaceful, a fence is essential, and an electric fence around the perimeter is, of course, an advantage.

9. A patio

• a small area for spending time outdoors.

Having a patio is certainly a plus, but pay attention to:

a) the size of the patio: very small “wells” between houses can be called one simply because there is no roof and there is a parrilla; b) the surface: concrete/tile/lawn; c) the presence of a parrilla and the possibility of using it for its intended purpose; d) a sink/kitchenette/trees/pool — all of which are optional but can add comfort.