Argentina Senate to debate 'express eviction' law amid heated controversy

Argentina's Senate is set to continue debating a contentious property law on Thursday, August 6, a proposal from President Javier Milei's administration that has ignited fierce debate. The "Law on the Inviolability of Private Property" seeks to streamline legal processes, particularly concerning evictions.

Spearheaded by Minister Federico Sturzenegger, the bill underwent significant modifications in committee to garner broader support. Notably, it removes provisions related to the National Registry of Popular Neighborhoods (ReNaBap) and introduces distinctions between unlawful intruders and those who legitimately occupy a property. It also addresses compensation in expropriation cases.

A central tenet of the legislation targets eviction procedures, aiming to make them faster and simpler. While the law would not permit property owners to bypass judicial intervention, it intends to alter the types of legal processes, shorten timelines, and provide courts with new tools for property restitution. The proposed "summary process" could reduce eviction timelines from potentially two years to around six months, according to proponents.

For rental housing contracts, the bill mandates that landlords must first formally notify tenants who are behind on payments, giving them at least ten days to rectify the situation before further legal action can be taken. This aspect aims to balance the rights of owners with a structured process for tenants.

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While an ordinary process can extend between a year and a half and two years, the summary scheme significantly reduces deadlines, it could be resolved in about six months.