Paperwork

The Casa Pronta service is soon to be available at banks and, therefore, it will not be necessary to go to a Conservatória do Registo Predial.

This new service is in its first phase and is available at branches of Caixa Geral de Depósitos in the council areas of Leiria and Braga. It is envisaged that it will be expanded to all banks that show interest in making this service available.

Casa Pronta enables buyers and sellers of property to carry out all the operations at one counter, namely the paying of taxes, contracts of buying and selling, to request the exemption of paying Imposto Municipal sobre Imóveis (IMI) and all the registrations.

Since the beginning of 2009 it is obligatory for residences to have an energy efficiency certificate for the selling process or for renting.

In a statement to the press, Alexander Fernandes, the Director General of the Energy Agency confirmed that: “When there is a commercial transaction it is obligatory to present the certificate for residential buildings.”

He also outlined certain tax breaks that might be available in relation to energy saving. “Whenever the owner of a building includes renewal energy, 30% of this value is deductible in terms of IRS (tax)”.

The energy efficiency certificates have to be passed by a technician recognised by the Energy Agency (ADENE). This same agency makes available on its site a Bolsa de Peritos with the contacts of 800 technicians qualified to pass these certificates. See here for more details:

http://www.adene.pt/ADENE/Canais/SubPortais/SCE/BolsadePeritos/Bolsa+de+…

On page 61 I give advice about how to check if a builder in Portugal has a current building permit – Alvará de Construção by consulting their governing body – INCI’s website at www.inci.pt.

The website layout has recently slightly changed and in order to access information you now need to click on Construção on the left hand side, then Consulta de Empresas and then Alvará. Continue as per the last 2 paragraphs on this book page and as continued on page 62.

Alternatively, just click here:

http://www.inci.pt/Portugues/Construcao/consultaemp/Paginas/Alvara.aspx

Likewise on page 62 there is also a slight change regarding obtaining information on a builder’s Título de Registo. You now need to click on Construção on the left hand side, then Consulta de Empresas and then Título de Registo. Continue as per the book details.

Alternatively, just click here:

http://www.inci.pt/Portugues/Construcao/consultaemp/Paginas/TitulodeRegi…

On page 63 I wrote:

“If you want to find out if your builder is a limited company, you can check by consulting the DGRN/RNPC website at http://www.dgrn.mj.pt.

Click on Teste a Confundibilidade on the right hand side………”

This has now changed and you have to go to the Portal da Empresa at http://www.portaldaempresa.pt/CVE/pt/EOL. Click on Pesquisa de nomes (firmas e denominações) existentes half way down on the left hand side and enter the name of the company that you wish to find where it says nome, and then click on pesquisar. You can also add in the council area (concelho), if you wish to narrow down your search.

Alternatively just click here:

https://www.portaldaempresa.pt/CVE/Services/PesquisaSICONF/PesquisaSICON…

At the bottom of page 63/beginning of page 64 I also wrote:

“To find the address go to http://www.dgrn.mj.pt/db_com/endcom1.asp and search via alphabetical order. For example, to find the Silves office you’d click on De Resende a Torres Vedres (From Resende to Torres Vedres).”

This has changed to www.irn.mj.pt/IRN/sections/contactos.

Click on Contactos dos Serviços de Registo Comercial and then download Attached File: Registo Comercial.

Alternatively, just go here:

http://www.irn.mj.pt/sections/irn/a_registral/servicos-externos-docs/con…

This downloaded document lists all the addresses of the Registos Comerciais in Portugal.

On Page 96 I wrote:

“To find your local land registry office go to http://www.dgrn.mj.pt/db_pred/endpred1.asp and search in alphabetical order. For example, to find the Silves office you’d click on De Resende a Torres Vedres (From Resende to Torres Vedres).”

This has changed to www.irn.mj.pt/IRN/sections/contactos.

Click on Contactos dos Serviços de Registo Predial and then download Attached File: Registo Predial.

Alternatively, just click here:

http://www.irn.mj.pt/sections/irn/a_registral/servicos-externos-docs/con…

This downloaded document lists all the addresses of the Registos Prediais in Portugal.

*As an addition…

Land Registry Certificates – Certidões do Registo Predial can be ordered online at the Portal do Cidadão website:

http://www.portaldocidadao.pt/PORTAL/pt/certidoes_online/HP.htm

They will then post them to you. It saves a visit to the local Conservatória do Registo Predial and the queues!

You have to set up an account first by clicking on novo registo (top right corner). An adequate knowledge of Portuguese is required though and you will also need to know the title nº of the property. If you only know a plot nº, then a trip to the local office will still be necessary.