DOCUMENTATION FOR BUYING A HOUSE

• Housing data sheet

This document presents a description of the technical and functional characteristics of an urban building for housing purpose, updated in the case of reconstruction, expansion or alteration. The owner of the property is obliged to keep the Housing Data Sheet. You can get a copy from the respective town hall.
The existence of this document is mandatory for all buildings, except:

    a. buildings already built and for which it was issued or requested, prior to March 30, 2004, housing permit;
    b. buildings built before the entry into force of the R.G.E.U. - General Regulation of Urban Buildings, approved by Decree-Law No. 38,382, of August 7, 1951.

• Content Certificate

Are you sure the seller is the real owner of the building? Or that there is no attachment associated with the house you are going to buy? This information is contained in the Certificate of Content, which can be requested at the Land Registry Office. The document certifies the records made in relation to the property, allowing to verify its composition, owners, burden or transmissions. It is also possible to obtain online information about the properties, through the Online Land Registry, a service of the Ministry of Justice in which you can consult the Permanent Certificate of Land Registration and Simplified Land Information, through the respective codes.

• Building Booklet of the Property

This document can be requested at the Finance desks or on the respective Portal. It is relevant to know the tax situation of the property, the data of its valuation and whether the Municipal Property Tax (IMI) is regularized.

• Energetic certificate

By law, the owner is required to present this document as soon as the sale of the property is announced. The Certificate assigns a rating to the property, depending on its energy performance, from F (worst performance) to A+ (best performance).

• History of the condominium

If you choose to buy an apartment included in a condominium (horizontal ownership regime) it is useful to know your history. You can ask the seller for copies of the rules and minutes of the condominium meeting, with relevant information on approved expenses for works to be carried out, value of quotas and the common reserve fund.

Ready for contracts?

Gathered all the information about housing, it is time to move on to the purchase. The first step in the purchase of a house is a Contract-Promise of Purchase and Sale. Not being mandatory, it is the instrument used to formalize the purchase intention, being a guarantee of the future definitive contract. The document regulates the rights and duties of buyer and seller, amounts (of the purchase and the sign given as advance) and date of delivery of the house.

When formalizing the promise contract, please note the requirements contained in the document:

•    Identification of the parties (full name, marital status, address and civil and tax identification)
•    Identification of the property (physical, registral, tax and use license)
•    Deadline for the realization of the definitive contract (deed), as well as the consequences of that period be exceeded
•    Agreed sales price
•    Amount of the sign given as advance
•    Amounts of signal reinforcements, if any, as well as the dates for their payments
•    Indication that the dwelling will be sold free of burdens and charges

Before signing

Are you ready for the big day: the signing of the Purchase and Sale Agreement (Deed)? Confirm that all documents are collected and valid, even if the majority is the responsibility of the seller. The list of formalities to be completed is extensive, so all the attention is little:

•     Civil identification documents and tax identification of all parties (Citizen Card)
•    Content Certificate
•    Building Booklet of the Property
•    Contract-Promise of Purchase and Sale, if any
•    Use License, for properties built after 1951
•    Housing Technical Data Sheet, in the case of Licenses of Use issued after March 30, 2004
•    Energy and Air Quality Certificate
•    Property and life insurance policies
•    Proof of payment of IMT (Municipal Tax on Onerous Real Estate Transfers) or proof of your exemption.
•    Proof of payment of Stamp Duty
•    Declarations of Exercise of the Right of Preference, if any – and, attention, it will also be necessary a proof of the waiver of the State to the right of preference, via document of the City Council and IPPAR, if the property is classified as cultural heritage, in the process of classification or located in a protection area
•    Toponiic Certificate, if any
•    If you use bank credit (see details below), you must also present a copy of the mortgage in favour of the bank and the statement of the outstanding amounts of the loan

What if I need to use housing credit?

If you choose a bank loan for the purchase of a house, you can use the home loan for the purpose of buying first or second property (but also for the purposes of construction, improvement or conservation).
 

• Housing data sheet

This document presents a description of the technical and functional characteristics of an urban building for housing purpose, updated in the case of reconstruction, expansion or alteration. The owner of the property is obliged to keep the Housing Data Sheet. You can get a copy from the respective town hall.
The existence of this document is mandatory for all buildings, except:

    a. buildings already built and for which it was issued or requested, prior to March 30, 2004, housing permit;
    b. buildings built before the entry into force of the R.G.E.U. - General Regulation of Urban Buildings, approved by Decree-Law No. 38,382, of August 7, 1951.

• Content Certificate

Are you sure the seller is the real owner of the building? Or that there is no attachment associated with the house you are going to buy? This information is contained in the Certificate of Content, which can be requested at the Land Registry Office. The document certifies the records made in relation to the property, allowing to verify its composition, owners, burden or transmissions. It is also possible to obtain online information about the properties, through the Online Land Registry, a service of the Ministry of Justice in which you can consult the Permanent Certificate of Land Registration and Simplified Land Information, through the respective codes.

• Building Booklet of the Property

This document can be requested at the Finance desks or on the respective Portal. It is relevant to know the tax situation of the property, the data of its valuation and whether the Municipal Property Tax (IMI) is regularized.

• Energy Certificate

By law, the owner is required to present this document as soon as the sale of the property is announced. The Certificate assigns a rating to the property, depending on its energy performance, from F (worst performance) to A+ (best performance).

• History of the condominium

If you choose to buy an apartment included in a condominium (horizontal ownership regime) it is useful to know your history. You can ask the seller for copies of the rules and minutes of the condominium meeting, with relevant information on approved expenses for works to be carried out, value of quotas and the common reserve fund.

Ready for contracts?

Gathered all the information about housing, it is time to move on to the purchase. The first step in the purchase of a house is a Contract-Promise of Purchase and Sale. Not being mandatory, it is the instrument used to formalize the purchase intention, being a guarantee of the future definitive contract. The document regulates the rights and duties of buyer and seller, amounts (of the purchase and the sign given as advance) and date of delivery of the house.

When formalizing the promise contract, please note the requirements contained in the document:

•    Identification of the parties (full name, marital status, address and civil and tax identification)
•    Identification of the property (physical, registral, tax and use license)
•    Deadline for the realization of the definitive contract (deed), as well as the consequences of that period be exceeded
•    Agreed sales price
•    Amount of the sign given as advance
•    Amounts of signal reinforcements, if any, as well as the dates for their payments
•    Indication that the dwelling will be sold free of burdens and charges

Before signing

Are you ready for the big day: the signing of the Purchase and Sale Agreement (Deed)? Confirm that all documents are collected and valid, even if the majority is the responsibility of the seller. The list of formalities to be completed is extensive, so all the attention is little:

•     Civil identification documents and tax identification of all parties (Citizen Card)
•    Content Certificate
•    Building Booklet of the Property
•    Contract-Promise of Purchase and Sale, if any
•    Use License, for properties built after 1951
•    Housing Technical Data Sheet, in the case of Licenses of Use issued after March 30, 2004
•    Energy and Air Quality Certificate
•    Property and life insurance policies
•    Proof of payment of IMT (Municipal Tax on Onerous Real Estate Transfers) or proof of your exemption.
•    Proof of payment of Stamp Duty
•    Declarations of Exercise of the Right of Preference, if any – and, attention, it will also be necessary a proof of the waiver of the State to the right of preference, via document of the City Council and IPPAR, if the property is classified as cultural heritage, in the process of classification or located in a protection area
•    Toponiic Certificate, if any
•    If you use bank credit (see details below), you must also present a copy of the mortgage in favour of the bank and the statement of the outstanding amounts of the loan

What if I need to use housing credit?

If you choose a bank loan for the purchase of a house, you can use the home loan for the purpose of buying first or second property (but also for the purposes of construction, improvement or conservation).
 

• Housing data sheet

This document presents a description of the technical and functional characteristics of an urban building for housing purpose, updated in the case of reconstruction, expansion or alteration. The owner of the property is obliged to keep the Housing Data Sheet. You can get a copy from the respective town hall.
The existence of this document is mandatory for all buildings, except:

    a. buildings already built and for which it was issued or requested, prior to March 30, 2004, housing permit;
    b. buildings built before the entry into force of the R.G.E.U. - General Regulation of Urban Buildings, approved by Decree-Law No. 38,382, of August 7, 1951.

• Content Certificate

Are you sure the seller is the real owner of the building? Or that there is no attachment associated with the house you are going to buy? This information is contained in the Certificate of Content, which can be requested at the Land Registry Office. The document certifies the records made in relation to the property, allowing to verify its composition, owners, burden or transmissions. It is also possible to obtain online information about the properties, through the Online Land Registry, a service of the Ministry of Justice in which you can consult the Permanent Certificate of Land Registration and Simplified Land Information, through the respective codes.

• Building Booklet of the Property

This document can be requested at the Finance desks or on the respective Portal. It is relevant to know the tax situation of the property, the data of its valuation and whether the Municipal Property Tax (IMI) is regularized.

• Energetic certificate

By law, the owner is required to present this document as soon as the sale of the property is announced. The Certificate assigns a rating to the property, depending on its energy performance, from F (worst performance) to A+ (best performance).

• History of the condominium

If you choose to buy an apartment included in a condominium (horizontal ownership regime) it is useful to know your history. You can ask the seller for copies of the rules and minutes of the condominium meeting, with relevant information on approved expenses for works to be carried out, value of quotas and the common reserve fund.

Ready for contracts?

Gathered all the information about housing, it is time to move on to the purchase. The first step in the purchase of a house is a Contract-Promise of Purchase and Sale. Not being mandatory, it is the instrument used to formalize the purchase intention, being a guarantee of the future definitive contract. The document regulates the rights and duties of buyer and seller, amounts (of the purchase and the sign given as advance) and date of delivery of the house.

When formalizing the promise contract, please note the requirements contained in the document:

•    Identification of the parties (full name, marital status, address and civil and tax identification)
•    Identification of the property (physical, registral, tax and use license)
•    Deadline for the realization of the definitive contract (deed), as well as the consequences of that period be exceeded
•    Agreed sales price
•    Amount of the sign given as advance
•    Amounts of signal reinforcements, if any, as well as the dates for their payments
•    Indication that the dwelling will be sold free of burdens and charges

Before signing

Are you ready for the big day: the signing of the Purchase and Sale Agreement (Deed)? Confirm that all documents are collected and valid, even if the majority is the responsibility of the seller. The list of formalities to be completed is extensive, so all the attention is little:

•     Civil identification documents and tax identification of all parties (Citizen Card)
•    Content Certificate
•    Building Booklet of the Property
•    Contract-Promise of Purchase and Sale, if any
•    Use License, for properties built after 1951
•    Housing Technical Data Sheet, in the case of Licenses of Use issued after March 30, 2004
•    Energy and Air Quality Certificate
•    Property and life insurance policies
•    Proof of payment of IMT (Municipal Tax on Onerous Real Estate Transfers) or proof of your exemption.
•    Proof of payment of Stamp Duty
•    Declarations of Exercise of the Right of Preference, if any – and, attention, it will also be necessary a proof of the waiver of the State to the right of preference, via document of the City Council and IPPAR, if the property is classified as cultural heritage, in the process of classification or located in a protection area
•    Toponiic Certificate, if any
•    If you use bank credit (see details below), you must also present a copy of the mortgage in favour of the bank and the statement of the outstanding amounts of the loan

What if I need to use housing credit?

If you choose a bank loan for the purchase of a house, you can use the home loan for the purpose of buying first or second property (but also for the purposes of construction, improvement or conservation).