If you have been browsing the web for property in Portugal, you are sure to have seen a few of those adverts that seem too good to be true. Adverts that say things like “habitable three-bedroom property, set in several acres of land, complete with natural stream and hundreds of olive and lemon trees,” and then go on to mention a laughably tiny price that wouldn’t buy you a lock-up garage in some parts of the UK.

Quite rightly, many people see these bargain properties as great renovation projects and several go on to turn them into dream homes, often making a pleasing pile of money in the process. At the same time, many are left half-finished because the buyers have failed to consider the full costs, legalities and unique quirks of the way things work in Portugal.

Broadly speaking, internal renovations are much simpler to manage in Portugal than external works, as there is less to consider in terms of legalities. Unless you are changing the core structure of a building by, for example, pulling out entire floors to create a galleried mezzanine, you are generally free to do what you wish with the inside of a home.

There are a couple of exceptions. If you buy a home in an area designated as a natural park, you can’t really do anything without permission. Similarly, things can get complicated if you need to connect mains services like electricity and water where they haven’t been connected previously. It is also important to mention that there are plenty of reports of these things taking years to complete, rather than weeks or months.

Another thing to be careful of is electrical work. Ensure you check the credentials of anyone performing electrical work, and don’t be tempted to fly out a UK contractor. UK electrical qualifications aren’t valid in Portugal, and work can be considered illegal if not performed by a certified person.

External renovations get a lot more complicated. If you intend to make your property larger or taller, or if you need to change the roof or facade, you are going to need permission from your local camara (town hall). For this, you will need an architect to draw up plans for you. The language barrier can become an issue here, so if you cannot speak Portuguese, a friendly lawyer can help to ease the process. Friends in high places can be useful in Portugal, so try to have someone on your team that has some!

Once permission is granted, it’s important to realise that planning permission here has an expiry date, so you need to ensure work is commenced in time to avoid going through the entire process again. Ensure you use licensed trades people, otherwise, although your project may get completed, it could prove difficult to sell on if you don’t have all the paperwork in place. Above all, remember you are in Portugal - a country you probably chose for its wonderful, slow pace of life. So try not to get too frustrated when everything takes longer than you would expect. It’s just the way things are.

Start your hunt for a home in Portugal here…
If you’re searching for a Portuguese property, a good place to start is the Portugal Buying Guide’s new property search facility. To start your search now visit http://www.portugalbuyingguide.com/content/portugal-properties