Alquileres: cómo calcular los aumentos por inflación en agosto 2026

In August 2026, landlords and tenants in Argentina will face the task of recalculating rent increases based on inflation, following the repeal of the Rental Law through President Javier Milei’s Decree of Need and Urgency in December 2023. With the removal of regulatory oversight, many property owners and renters have opted to negotiate new contracts with terms spanning two years, often denominated in pesos and indexed to inflation. Some agreements still reference the ICL (Índice de Costo de Vida) or remain fixed in dollars without adjustments. The method for adjusting rents according to inflation relies primarily on the National Consumer Price Index (IPC), which is published monthly by the National Institute of Statistics (Indec). When drafting a contract, both parties must agree on the frequency of the adjustment, whether quarterly, bi-quarterly, or another interval. In periods of high inflation, such as late 2023 and early 2024, experts recommend more frequent indexing, typically quarterly or bi-quarterly. Previously, semi-annual adjustments were common. To calculate the increase based on inflation, one can use online tools that automatically apply the accumulated inflation rate over a specified period. For example, if a lease was signed in April 2026 for $650,000 and requires an adjustment in August, the calculation would consider the inflation rates for March, April, May, and June. These figures, 3.4%, 2.6%, 2.1%, and 1.9% respectively, result in an accumulated inflation rate of approximately 10.38%. Applying this to the base rent yields a new monthly amount of around $717,446. For those who prefer a manual approach, the process involves multiplying each month's inflation factor rather than simply adding them. This reflects the compounded nature of inflation over time. If a lease was signed in February 2026 for $650,000 with a bi-quarterly adjustment due in July, the individual monthly inflation rates for those months would be applied sequentially. Dividing each percentage by 100 and adding 1 gives factors of 1.034, 1.026, 1.021, and 1.019. Multiplying these together and applying them to the initial rent results in a new monthly payment of $717,432. It is worth noting that manual calculations may differ slightly from automated ones. This discrepancy arises because the monthly inflation data released by Indec is rounded, potentially leading to minor variations in the final result. While some differences might range between $100 and $300, they generally fall within acceptable margins for practical purposes. Enrique Abatti, president of the Chamber of Property Owners, emphasizes the importance of regular indexing during periods of high inflation. He suggests that quarterly or bi-quarterly adjustments are more effective in keeping pace with economic fluctuations compared to longer intervals. As the rental market continues to evolve under the new regulatory framework, clarity and precision in calculating rent adjustments will remain crucial for both landlords and tenants.