Whether you own a full-time residence or a home you rent out, these tips for property maintenance in Portugal should prove invaluable.
Wonderful though it would be to think only of the sunshine, fresh fish and wine, there are other more practical considerations you must keep in mind when owning a home in Portugal.
Top tips for caring for your Portuguese home!
Property maintenance in Portugal is one of those unavoidable issues that can delay the moment you get to sink into the sun lounger. Thankfully, it’s no more complicated than it is anywhere else. It’s usually easy to find tradespeople, and well-stocked DIY stores are located all over the country.
That said, there are some specific practical and cultural issues to keep in mind. In this article, we run through some related tips. These will help ensure that you and your guests maximise that wine, fish and sunshine time – rather than spending time fire-fighting maintenance issues.
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Finding tradespeople
Ask other expats out the tradesmen they used.
The “go to” way to find tradespeople seems to be the same the world over these days. Many people head straight to the local Facebook group, say what they need doing, and wait for replies and recommendations.
There’s nothing wrong with this approach, but caution is advised. There are plenty of amateurs out there who jump onto every thread saying “I can do that!”, and people who immediately tag their friends in the trades.
You can certainly find good recommendations on the expat groups, but due diligence is still advised. It’s probably a good sign if several people all recommend the same firm, but don’t go with a recommendation without doing a little homework. Does the company have a website, and example of previous work to show? Are you actually dealing with a company – with qualifications and insurance – or an individual trying to make some money on the side?
In-person recommendations are arguably better, especially if somebody can show you the work a tradesperson has done and tell you what they paid. It’s worth taking your time before making a choice.
Property maintenance specifics to Portugal
The climate alone makes property maintenance in Portugal different to what you’re probably used to back home. For example, a damp winter – especially in a holiday home that’s often empty – can mean you quickly become familiar with anti-mould products.
At the other end of the scale is the heat – think air conditioning maintenance and, at the extreme, the potential impacts of forest fires and Saharan dust.
Your first couple of years of owning a home in Portugal will deliver a learning experience. It’s strange to suddenly be thinking about keeping a place cool rather than warm. It may well be new to have to deal with palm tree caterpillars and fire ants, instead of more Northern European garden pests!
Paying cash?
It’s well documented that Portugal has a substantial “grey economy”. As such, don’t be surprised if the matter of paying cash comes up when negotiating property maintenance jobs.
There are many reasons to proceed with caution. If you are renting out your property, you’ll want to have proper receipts for tax purposes. Furthermore, you can end up with no comeback on substandard work if you’ve done an “under the table” deal.
Ultimately, it’s best to deal with registered, professional and insured companies when you’re having maintenance work done on your home. Ensure everything is “on the books” and keep the receipts. “Buy cheap, buy twice” has real relevance here.
Rental considerations
If you rent out your home in Portugal, you have various responsibilities under the Alojamento Local licensing scheme. These include everything from having reliable fire equipment, signage and manuals, to ensuring that shutters and curtains can effectively block natural light.
Obtaining the rental license is one job. Sticking to the terms of it is another ongoing task. Inspections can and do take place, conducted by both the tourist board and ASAE, the Food and Economic Security Authority.
If you own an investment property that’s let to tourists, staying on top of the Alojamento Local requirements should be a regular scheduled task – handled by you or by the agency you use.
It’s also important to consider the small things that make a difference to Airbnb reviews. Trivial breakages and irritations such as dead lightbulbs and missing remote control batteries can really reduce the perception of quality when people stay in your property. Attention to this kind of detail is something that separates the great property management companies from the bad and average ones.
Condominium concerns
Rental apartments in Albufeira.
If you own a condominium style property, you will typically benefit from facilities that you’re not directly responsible for maintaining. These could include pools, gyms, gardens and car parks.
It’s well worth being active on the management committee for the condominium if you want to ensure you have a say in how things are run.
An example: many swimming pools in Portugal are unheated. The Portuguese tend to view the true peak of the summer as their summer and wouldn’t contemplate an “off season” swim. Meanwhile tourists from northern Europe could well want to take a dip on a warm Algarve day in March!
Presumably you don’t want your Airbnb guests complaining that the pool was out of use. You may well be partial to an off-season swim yourself. By involving yourself with the condominium business, you will have a say in how facilities are maintained, and what’s available during what part of the year.
Similarly, it’s essential that you have a chance to raise issues if you’re not happy with how the development is being maintained. Thankfully, the financial crisis days of unmaintained facilities are behind us, but there’s still considerable variation in how well communal facilities are maintained.
Property maintenance in Portugal needn’t be a huge hassle. The key thing is getting the right people involved and ensuring that you keep a close eye on work being done. While some of the tips here are specific to Portugal, that one could apply in any country in the world.
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