Lay My Hat Forum

[e-richard]

Don't know how many of you are following this beauracratic nightmare, but its certainly not getting any easier or better.

http://www.portugalresident.com/portugalresident/showstory.asp?ID=15819

This article paints a gloomy picture of the demise of the tourist industry and private rentals in particular.

Why am I not at all worried ?

[debk]

Hi, Richard -

I've been talking to DGT and the Câmara Municipal de Lisboa about this for two years. It's too complicated to try to begin to explain where we are in the process, but suffice to say that, yes, the system is unworkable and it's next to impossible to get a license... but that won't keep you from getting fined (approx €50,000) if they find you. And if you are on the net, they do intend to eventually find you.

At the very least, it gives us something to do with our spare time.
debk
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Historic Lisbon Apartments & Holiday Rental Homes

[e-richard]

Too right Debk. If it were relatively straightforward to get a license, I'd be there at the front of the queue, but some of the hoops I understand I have to go through before I can even apply to a non-existent official body are so dispiriting that I am more likely to simply withdraw my Villa from the rental market and just use it for holidays.

I'm sure I am not alone in this train of thought, so what is the effect on tourism going to be ?


... but more importantly, if I do withdraw from the rental business, will I still be allowed to post on LMH ?

[oskar]

If it´s any consolation, this has been rumbling around the Canaries for years without the slightest sign of any progress.

I think Scotland might win the World Cup first!
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LANZAROTE VILLAS

[CostaBlanca]

Hi Oskar,

I reckon that the day will come sometime! The hoteliers (e.g. Benidorm) are a powerful group and as their occupany levels reduce from the highs of 100%, they are trying to put pressure on local councils to do something about unlicensed properties.

Saludos,
Maria

[centime]

Well there is a coincidence just as all you lot are discussing this on the forum Rui my Portuguese husband (and solicitor) were in the office of the tax return advisor here in Lisbon. Let me know where you are Debk on this one as we are just about to reschedule our tax returns with the appropriate sections indicated. The advisor did come up with a couple of suggestions however - run the business from my UK firm (friends have approval under the Scottish Tourism office there for holiday rentals homes), one of the villas may be sectioned under Truism Rural (can find out about this also from a group that does this) - this I am sure is much less stringent than this proposed villa nonsense. Sounds as we may need to create a new precedent with this , Rui has been working for years on the new rents law that will come into force for normal Portuguese tenants next year, he even knows one of the judges that helped to write the law. His old pal is very active in the association of landlords, they have there own lawyers and may come up with something too. What is the status in other EU countries where it works for holiday rental owners ? Feel free to PM me.
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Lisbon the lovely, Lisbon the fair, never to have seen her is to miss something rare!

[debk]

Centime, we are CAE 55232 Alojamento Mobilado para Turistas. Incredible tax advantages for this. Love it.

As for the licenses, I've been back/forth between CML and DGT. In Jan 2005 I was assured that absolutely no licenses were needed, both by DGT and CML. Then early this year the DGT posted a big "get licensed or get fined €50k per property" notice on their site and I re-started the conversations. The CML architect for our area assures me that we are the only people trying to do this in Lisbon (only ones trying to get licenses, that is). I've sat down and walked through most of the laws with them, explaining pleasantly why some are not just unreasonable but also unsafe/inappropriate to guests and the CML agreed... so the CML has basically refused to take my application, instead referring me back to DGT to clarify the law as it "should" apply to villas. Like I'm personally going to get the laws changed. Next step, back to DGT...
debk
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Historic Lisbon Apartments & Holiday Rental Homes

[centime]

thanks for this Debk just taking a look at the various sectors, more later!
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Lisbon the lovely, Lisbon the fair, never to have seen her is to miss something rare!