Legal advice in Portugal

Often after moving, be that because of having changed to another rental house or bought a house, the previous electricity and gas contracts are still in force. In these cases, since the contract is in another person’s name, it’s necessary to change the titleholder.

Buying a new house is as special and exciting as it is complex and frustrating. To make sure everything goes well, there’s nothing better than being properly informed.

Living in an apartment block isn’t always easy, especially these days when permanent residents and tourists mix in the same building. Strange faces walking around can sometimes scare people and the condo in general may want to start controlling who enters and exits the building.

Anyone who has a shared swimming pool for all the people in their apartment building in Portugal knows what a delight it can be to cool off in the summertime, but you have to bear in mind that there are certain precautions to take and rules to follow.

This week, real estate agencies and other companies operating in the Portuguese real estate sector will be subject to a new regulation that comes into force on 26th June 2019.

The 2019 deadline for submitting IRS tax returns online in Portugal is 30th June.

It's not always easy for neighbours to live together, especially if you live in an apartment building or block of flats. Be it loud music, construction work, or noisy animals... there are those who have difficulties in complying with the rules of good neighbourliness.

Maternity leave in Portugal is due to be extended to 12 months paid leave at full pay, if a law is passed after a discussion in the Assembly of the Republic (AR), following a petition that was signed by 21,038 people.

The new Portuguese Citizen Numbers (Números de Identificação Fiscal or NIF) will start with the number 3, the government has announced, with the change expected to take place in June or July 2019.

The Institute of Employment and Vocational Training (Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional or IEFP) is going to start posting job offers in Portugal abroad.

Red tape and bureaucracy can be an impediment to any foreigner who lives in Portugal and barely knows the language.

This year there are new deadlines for paying the Portuguese Municipal Property Tax (Imposto Municipal sobre os Imóveis or IMI) bill. For the first time, homeowners will be able to pay the tax all at once in one lump sum in May, even if the value of the first instalment is more than 100 euro.

The Cartão de Cidadão Citizen Card in Portugal is about to change. The idea is to make it more similar to that of the other countries in the European Union.

If you have a four-legged, or even two-legged, friend, you’ll probably want to bring them to Portugal with you to share your new life in the sun.

The Portuguese Council of Ministers (Conselho de Ministros) approved a decree law on 14th February 2019 creating the Right in rem to Lasting Housing (Direito Real de Habitação Duradoura or DRHD), a scheme that aims to provide families with a stable housing solution and allow them to maintain their p

How long has it been since your building had any work done to it? Is it a legal requirement to do carry out reparations to the communal areas every now and then? What happens if there are people living in certain flats of the apartment block who don’t pay their condominium fees?

Moving to Portugal, finding a house, learning the language, landing a job… it can all be very draining. When you do find a job in Portugal, it’s tempting to simply sign the employment contract and be done with it.

What has turned Portugal into a hotspot for investors over the past few years and what are the benefits?

When you move to Portugal, it’ll really make you feel at home to have your car there. Whether you take your car from home or you buy one there, you’ll need to get insured, so how does car insurance work in Portugal? What do you need to get insured on your vehicle in Portugal?

Residence permits are granted in Portugal in exchange for investing in the country. This is one of the main regulatory changes to the ‘golden’ visa regime that came into force on Monday 1st October 2018.

Many banks ask for a guarantee when granting a loan for the purchase of a house, but there are also certain landlords who ask for one in new leasing contracts.

Moving to sunny Portugal sounds like an amazing idea. However, it isn’t all beach and fun. There are a few administrative things to deal with before you can fully start your new Portuguese life.

Do you have a doorman in your apartment building, or did there used to be one? Is there a flat set aside for this porter to live in but now it’s empty?

Ever wanted to be Portuguese? Have you lived in the country for a while now and are thinking of making it permanent? Or maybe you’re a British citizen uncertain of your status in Portugal after Brexit?

July has arrived and that means the second payment of the Municipal Property Tax (Imposto Municipal sobre Imóveis or IMI) is due. This notice is for anyone who has to pay this tax in three separate parts. That happens when the amount to be paid is more than 500 euro.