Portugal Info
Joined: 21 Oct 2006
Posts: 21
Home Country: portugal
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 Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 2:56 pm Post subject: HOUSING IN PORTUGAL |
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HOUSING IN PORTUGAL
GENERAL
If you’re looking for a rental property for a few months, e.g. three to six months, it’s best not to rent unseen, but to rent a holiday apartment for a week or two to allow yourself time to look around for a longer term rental.
Properties for rent are advertised in local newspapers and magazines (where you can also place a ‘wanted’ ad.), particularly in English-language publications. They can also be found through property publications in many other countries.
Estate agents in Portugal often offer both short and long-term rentals, and developers may also rent properties to potential buyers. A rental contract (contrato de arrendamento) is necessary when renting a property in Portugal, whether long or short-term.
LONG-TERMED RENTALS
Portugal doesn’t have a flourishing long-term (i.e. six months or longer) rental market in resort areas, where it’s more common for people to buy, although there’s an adequate choice of long-term rentals in most regions, including everything from studio apartments to luxurious villas with private swimming pools.
Most properties in resort areas are let furnished (mobiliado), whether long or short-term, and long-term unfurnished (desmobiliado, sem mobília) properties are difficult to find. On the other hand, in major cities long-term rentals are usually let unfurnished and furnished properties are difficult to find.
Rental costs vary considerably according to the size (number of bedrooms) and quality of a property, its age and the facilities provided. However, the most significant factor affecting rents is the region, the city or town, and the particular neighbourhood.
Long-term rentals are good value in resort areas outside the main summer season (when they’re rare), where it’s possible to rent a property for the entire winter season.
Rentals of one year or longer are difficult to find in the Algarve and are generally very expensive. In major cities, rents are high (in relation to salaries) and contracts are commonly for one year and renewable by mutual agreement between the landlord and tenant.
Portuguese law is heavily weighted in favour of tenants and this acts as a deterrent to landlords who fear being unable to get rid of a tenant when a contract terminates. Long-term rentals don’t usually include utilities such as gas and electricity (or heating).
SHORT-TERMED RENTALS
Short-term rentals are always furnished and are usually for holiday lets of a few weeks or months. A short-term or temporary contract is necessary, which provides tenants with less rights than a long-term contract. There’s an abundance of self-catering properties for rent in Portugal, including apartments, cottages, farmhouses, townhouses and villas.
Rents for short-term rentals are much higher than for longer lets, particularly in popular holiday areas where many properties are let as self-catering holiday accommodation. However, many agents let self-catering properties in resort areas at a considerable reduction during the ‘low’ season, which may extend from October to April.
The rent for an average one or two bedroom furnished apartment or townhouse during the low season is usually from €600 to €900 per month for a minimum one or two month let. Rent is usually paid one month in advance with one month’s rent as a deposit. Lets of less than a month are more expensive, e.g. €300 to €450 per week for a two-bedroom apartment in the low season, which is some 50 per cent of the rent levied in the high season.
Many hotels and hostels also offer special low rates for long stays during the low season. Note, however, that when the rental period includes the peak letting months of July and August, the rent can be prohibitively high (the Algarve is one of Europe’s most expensive regions in which to rent a summer holiday home).
Standards vary considerably, from dilapidated ill-equipped apartments to luxury villas with every modern convenience. Check whether a property is fully equipped (which should mean whatever you want it to mean) and whether it has heating if you’re planning to rent in winter. Rentals can be found by contacting owners advertising in publications and through estate agents in most areas of Portugal, many of whom also handle short-term lets.
OTHER HOUSING ALTERNATIVES
HOTELS
Hotel rates in Portugal vary with the time of year, the exact location and the individual establishment, although you may be able to haggle over rates outside the high season and for long stays.
Hotels located in large towns and cities, coastal resorts and spa towns are the most expensive, and rates in Lisbon and Porto are similar to other major European cities. However, inexpensive hotels and other accommodation can be found in most towns, where a single room (quarto individual) can usually be found for €20 to €30 and a double (quarto duplo) for €30 to €40 (usually with a private bath or shower). Hotel rates are fairly consistent throughout Portugal.
Minimum and maximum rates are fixed according to the facilities and the season, although there’s no season in the major cities or in Madeira. Rates are considerably higher in tourist areas during the high season of July and August, when rooms at any price are hard to find. On the other hand, outside the main season (particularly in winter) some hotels offer low half or full board rates, when a double room with a bath, including dinner (buffet) and breakfast can be found for €40 for two (there are even better rates for stays of a week or longer).
Some hotels and apart-hotels (‘hotels’ consisting of self-contained apartments) also offer special low rates for long-stay winter guests. However, hotels aren’t usually a cost-effective, long-term solution for home hunters, although there may be little choice if you need accommodation for a short period only. Inexpensive bed and breakfast (e.g. a pensão, residéncia or quarto) accommodation is also available in Portugal.
HOME EXCHANGE
An alternative to renting is to exchange your home abroad with one in Portugal. This way you can experience home-living abroad for a relatively small cost and may save you the expense of a long-term rental.
Although there’s an element of risk involved in exchanging your home with another family – depending on whether your swap is made in heaven or hell! – most agencies thoroughly vet clients and have a track record of successful swaps. There are home exchange agencies in most countries, many of which are members of the International Home Exchange Association (IHEA).
The best place to find or contact home exchange organisations is via the Internet where you will find www.digsville.com (American-oriented with a retro-hippy feel), www.intervac.com (large membership, long-established), www.homebase-hols.com, www.homeexchange.com (boasts 250,000 requests per month from over 70 countries, with most properties in North America), www.homelink.org.uk (over 12,000 members – one of the largest and best-known companies), www.landfair.com (provides a custom-matching service for US$250) and www.webhomeexchange.com (American oriented). |
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