ILN: BUYING AND SELLING REAL ESTATE - AN INTERNATIONAL GUIDE

[BUYING AND SELLING REAL ESTATE IN PORTUGAL]

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As to non-fixed term agreements, the law provides the conditions and the prior notices that the landlord and the tenant must comply in order to legally terminate the agreement. Like in the non-housing lease agreements, any party may cancel the lease agreement based on a serious breach of duty committed by the other. Also, here the legal system provides a non-exhaustive list of cases of breach justifying a landlord’s decision to terminate the lease agreement. Additionally, the contract can be simply terminated by means of a written communication sent by the landlord to the tenant in eligible situations of delay or lack of payment of the rent. In 2019, recent tax incentives were introduced, foreseeing a signification reduction of taxes in longer renting agreements.

This eviction procedure is specially used when the lease agreement was terminated by non- judicial means. The landlord can cumulate the request for eviction with the claim of payment of rents and other expenses and charges due by the tenant. This procedure takes place before an extrajudicial entity and is aimed to ensure fast procedures, although it can, under certain circumstances, be transferred to court. VIII. URBAN REHABILITATION To promote the properties’ rehabilitation, the new reforms simplified the urban licensing procedure required for these operations as well as for termination of lease agreements when the landlord desires to perform rehabilitation works on the property. Urban rehabilitation of buildings must, however, meet energetic efficiency, seismic vulnerability, and accessibility requirements. There is a special procedure applicable to the prior licensing control regarding buildings that were built at least 30 years ago and that show high levels of deterioration. According to this procedure, the execution of works in such buildings does not require a construction license, usually a bureaucratic process, being that a prior formal communication to the competent entity is requirement enough to allow the works to commence. In case the property is leased, and the landlord intends to carry out refurbishment works or deep restoration, in most situations, and as stated above, the landlord is entitled to terminate the lease agreement without having to resort to court and to obtain the release of the leased property, provided that he relocates the tenant or, alternatively, awards the tenant with the legally foreseen compensation.

VII.4. SPECIAL PROCEDURE FOR EVICTION One of the ultimate goals of the urban lease regulation’s reform in 2012 consisted of speeding up the procedure for eviction. A special eviction regime was established in order to ensure the effectiveness of the termination of lease agreements – regardless of its purpose – applicable when the tenant has not vacated the leased property on the date foreseen in the law or agreed by the parties.

ILN Real Estate Group – Buying and Selling Real Estate Series

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