Renting a home in Portugal as a newcomer: a practical guide
NIF, guarantor, contract, receipts and what to check in a home: the essentials for anyone new to Portugal looking for a home in or around Lisbon.
Arriving in a new country and looking for a home at the same time is hard: you do not know the neighbourhoods, which buildings have problems, and often you do not yet have the documents landlords ask for. This guide brings together the essentials.
Documents you will need
- NIF (Portuguese tax number): asked for in practically every contract.
- ID (passport or residence card).
- Proof of income: employment contract, payslips or bank statements.
- Guarantor (fiador): many landlords ask for someone to guarantee the rent. Newcomers rarely have one; in that case landlords often ask for more months of rent upfront. Negotiate and get everything in writing.
Contract and payments
- Contracts longer than six months must be in writing. Always ask for a written contract.
- The landlord should register the contract with the tax office and issue rent receipts. A declared contract protects you and, if you are a tax resident, normally lets you deduct rent.
- Read what happens to the deposit at the end of the contract and agree on a move-out inspection.
- Photograph the condition of the home on the day you get the keys.
Never pay before seeing the home (or, from abroad, before a live video call and confirming who owns it). Newcomers are scammers' favourite target. See the 10 warning signs.
What is different about Portuguese homes
- Cold in winter: many homes have no central heating or good insulation. Ask about heating and winter bills, and check the energy certificate.
- Damp: very common. Learn to spot it at a viewing.
- "T" numbers: "T2" means two bedrooms plus a living room. It says nothing about size: check the square metres.
- Floors: "R/C" is the ground floor; the "1.º andar" (1st floor) is already above street level.
Get to know the area before deciding
Newcomers cannot know whether a street is quiet, whether there are bars outside, or what transport and services are nearby. Type the address into SherlockHomes: you will see what other visitors observed, plus public data for the area such as transport, schools, shops and short-term rentals.
After your viewings
Record your viewings in the visit diary to compare homes, and leave your stars to help whoever comes next. The site works in Portuguese and English.