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Rental guarantees: fiador, caução, and insurance

The three ways Brazilian landlords protect a lease. Newcomers rarely have a local fiador.

Almost every long-term rental in Porto Alegre requires a guarantee. The guarantee is a guarantor, cash, or an insurance policy.

Fiador

A fiador is a guarantor who usually owns property in the state and signs that they will pay if you do not. Parents in Porto Alegre do this for their children. Your cousin in Recife does not count. Your employer in Dublin does not count.

If you just moved, you probably do not have a local fiador.

Caução

A cash deposit, typically three months of rent, held until you leave. Some landlords want it in a joint savings account; others just keep it. Put the amount and the return conditions in the contract.

Seguro-fiança

You pay a premium, often 8–15% of 12 months of rent, and the insurer replaces the fiador. Porto Alegre agencies accept this widely. It is the practical path for many newcomers.

QuintoAndar and similar platforms bake a guarantee into the product, so you may not need to find a fiador.

Bring extra documents: CPF, income, sometimes a Brazilian credit check. With no local credit, expect a higher premium or a no.

Other terms on the form

  • Fiador solidário: more than one guarantor, jointly liable.
  • Título de capitalização: a bond the landlord holds as collateral. Less common and hard to unwind.
  • Carta fiança bancária: a bank-issued guarantee. Rare for apartments.

Do not sign a contract that stacks caução, insurance and fiador at the same time. Brazilian law limits the guarantees a landlord can demand; check the contract before you pay.