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Find out about the basics of renting or buying property in Portugal to help you get started with your relocation plans.

Nearly 200,000 properties are sold in Portugal annually and around a third of Portuguese properties are rented. You'll need to choose one of these options if you're thinking of relocating to Portugal. To find the perfect property for you, you'll need to do plenty of research. To help you get started, here are the basics of property in Portugal:

Finding Portuguese Property

Realistically, the best thing you can do about finding property in Portugal is to visit and have a look yourself. There are sites on the internet but the newspapers are also very good for advertising property. It is also a great idea to visit local estate agents if you have a certain area you like. You should always visit any property in person whether you rent or buy.

Renting Property In Portugal

Rentals in Portugal comes in all shapes and sizes. Studio flats, flats, apartments, houses and villas are all available, as well as more unique properties. Some properties are furnished and some are not, just like in the UK. Many will have their own paperwork on what your rent covers, as some will include bills and some will not. Be careful with properties that include the use of shared pools and services as they will likely come with additional charges. As is in the UK, the minimum rental period is usually 6 months unless you use something like Airbnb which will likely be more expensive.

Buying Property In Portugal

Buying in Portugal is something that you may want to consider after spending a trial period renting in your chosen area, just to be sure it suits you and your family. If you are ready to buy, you'll want to utilise the papers and estate agents again, looking at as many properties as you can. In Portugal when you want to buy a property you have to get a Portuguese fiscal number and card which you apply for at the Post Office. You have to hire a solicitor to deal with the purchase, like in the UK. Also, just like in the UK there are deposits and different stages of contract in which money can be lost on either side.

Getting Started...

It is a really good idea to get to know the Portuguese property system as much as possible before you go ahead with making a purchase. Ideally, renting for a while will help you gain a better understanding of what is available in the area you like. This also gives you time to try out living in Portugal, as it is a beautiful country but moving there doesn't work out for everybody and it is easier to relocate back to the UK at the end of a rental contract, than having to sort out a property sale. The more you know, the best placed you will be to not only buy an amazing base for this next chapter of your life, but to hopefully grab yourselves a bargain too! International moving companies will make your move much easier. Pack and Go have been in business for more than 20 years and can handle all your packing and moving reqjuirements.