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Overview of a landlord workshop session with participants at tables reviewing course materials
The Programme

What We Offer

A two-day workshop covering every core area of Portuguese rental self-management — structured, sequenced, and grounded in current law.

Programme Overview

What the Two Days Cover

The workshop is structured as six modules delivered across two consecutive days. Each module addresses one core area of landlord responsibility, with practical exercises and reference materials included throughout.

Day One · Module 1

Tenant Screening That Works

Selecting a tenant is the single decision with the longest-lasting consequences in any tenancy. This module builds a structured, repeatable screening process that stays within what Portuguese law permits.

We cover which documents you may legitimately request — identity documents, proof of income, employment contracts, tax declarations — and how to read them usefully. We address what questions you may ask and what you may not, including the anti-discrimination provisions that apply under Portuguese law.

The module also covers property viewings, the use of written applications, and how to document your decision in a way that is defensible if it is ever questioned. Participants leave with a screening checklist and a written application template.

Topics covered:

  • Documents you may request from prospective tenants
  • Reading income evidence — what constitutes adequate income documentation
  • Anti-discrimination obligations under Portuguese law
  • Structuring the viewing and application process
  • Documenting your selection decision
  • Tenant screening checklist and written application template
Day One · Module 2

Lease Agreements Under Portuguese Law

A lease agreement is not a formality — it is the document that governs the entire tenancy. This module works through the Lei do Arrendamento Urbano (NRAU) and what it requires of a valid residential lease contract.

We cover the mandatory clauses that must appear in every lease, the duration options available (fixed-term, open-ended, student accommodation contracts), renewal and termination conditions, and how rent updates are handled under the permitted indexation mechanism.

Particular attention is given to clauses that landlords commonly omit or phrase incorrectly — and the consequences of doing so. Participants work through a model lease during the session and leave with an annotated clause reference guide.

Topics covered:

  • Lei do Arrendamento Urbano — current framework and recent amendments
  • Mandatory lease clauses and their correct formulation
  • Fixed-term versus open-ended contracts — practical differences
  • Renewal conditions and notice periods
  • Rent update procedures and the NRAU indexation mechanism
  • Early termination — landlord and tenant rights
  • Annotated lease clause reference guide
Day One · Module 3

Deposit Handling Rules

Security deposits in Portugal are governed by specific provisions of the Código Civil and the NRAU. This module covers the rules precisely — not as a general discussion, but as a procedure to follow from the moment a deposit is received to the moment it is returned.

We address the maximum deposit amount permitted, how it must be documented in the lease and separately acknowledged, and the conditions under which deductions are legally permissible — distinguishing between fair wear and tear and damage that may legitimately be claimed against the deposit.

The module also covers the importance of property condition records — how to create them, what they should contain, and why a photograph alone is insufficient evidence in a dispute. Participants leave with a deposit documentation template and a property condition record template.

Topics covered:

  • Legal maximum deposit amount and documentation requirements
  • Acknowledging receipt of deposit correctly
  • Fair wear and tear versus damage — the legal distinction
  • Conditions for legitimate deductions
  • Property condition records — structure and evidential value
  • Returning deposits — timeline and procedure
  • Deposit documentation and property condition record templates
Day Two · Module 4

Portal das Finanças — Receipts and Registration

Portuguese landlords have specific obligations through the Autoridade Tributária's Portal das Finanças — obligations that many self-managing landlords either do not know about or handle incorrectly. This module covers the system in practical terms.

We walk through lease registration on the Portal das Finanças — when it is required, how it is done, and what the consequences of failing to register are. We then cover the rent receipt obligation — the requirement to issue electronic rent receipts (recibos de renda) through the portal, the information each receipt must contain, and the monthly procedure for issuing them.

The session includes a step-by-step walkthrough of the portal interface, so participants understand not just what is required but exactly how to do it. Reference sheets covering the portal procedure are included in the materials.

Topics covered:

  • Lease registration on the Portal das Finanças — requirements and procedure
  • Electronic rent receipts — legal obligation and content requirements
  • Monthly receipt issuance — step-by-step portal walkthrough
  • What happens if receipts are not issued correctly
  • Record-keeping for tax purposes
  • Portal das Finanças procedure reference sheet
Day Two · Module 5

Maintenance Responsibility Boundaries

Maintenance disputes are among the most common sources of conflict in Portuguese tenancies — and most of them arise from ambiguity rather than bad faith. This module applies the Código Civil framework to the practical question of who is responsible for what.

We cover the legal distinction between structural maintenance (landlord responsibility) and ordinary upkeep (tenant responsibility), and the grey areas that the law does not define cleanly. We address how to communicate maintenance responsibilities at the start of a tenancy in a way that reduces ambiguity, and what to do when a maintenance issue arises — how to respond, document, and resolve it.

The module also covers the landlord's right of access for inspection and maintenance, and the correct procedure for exercising it under Portuguese law. Participants leave with a maintenance responsibility reference guide and a maintenance communication template.

Topics covered:

  • Código Civil framework — landlord versus tenant maintenance obligations
  • Structural versus ordinary maintenance — practical distinction
  • Communicating responsibilities at tenancy start
  • Responding to maintenance requests — procedure and documentation
  • Landlord right of access — legal requirements
  • Maintenance responsibility guide and communication template
Day Two · Module 6

The Legal Process for Non-Payment

Non-payment of rent is the situation landlords most fear — and the one for which the correct procedure matters most. Handling it incorrectly can undermine a landlord's legal position significantly. This module walks through the process step by step.

We begin with formal notice — what it must contain, how it must be delivered, and the timelines that apply. We then cover the Balcão Nacional do Arrendamento (BNA) — the administrative route available to landlords before judicial proceedings — and the procedimento especial de despejo, which is the specific legal mechanism for eviction in Portugal.

The module distinguishes between what landlords can handle themselves and what requires a qualified lawyer, so participants have a realistic picture of the process rather than an oversimplified one. Participants leave with a non-payment procedure flowchart and a formal notice template.

Topics covered:

  • Formal notice requirements — content, delivery, and timelines
  • Balcão Nacional do Arrendamento — what it is and how to use it
  • Procedimento especial de despejo — how it works
  • What landlords can handle without a lawyer — and what they cannot
  • Documentation throughout the process — why it matters
  • Non-payment procedure flowchart and formal notice template
Workshop Format

Practical Details

Duration

Two consecutive days, typically Saturday and Sunday. Sessions run from 9:30 to 17:00 with breaks. Full attendance is expected for both days.

Group Size

Groups are kept deliberately small to allow genuine questions and relevant discussion. Places are limited per cohort.

Location

Workshops are delivered in Porto at our premises on Cç de Dom Pedro Pitões 15. Exact room details are provided upon registration.

Language

Sessions are delivered in English. All written materials are provided in English. Portuguese legal terms are explained and translated throughout.

Materials Included

All reference materials, templates, checklists, and procedure guides are included. Participants leave with a complete reference folder for ongoing use.

Enquiries

Contact us to ask about upcoming dates or to discuss whether the programme suits your situation. We are happy to answer questions before you register.

Interested in Attending?

Contact us to enquire about upcoming workshop dates or to ask any questions about the programme. We respond within one business day.

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