Rent apartment

There are many people choosing to rent a flat rather than buying it. The demand and all the inherent process can be time consuming, but it doesn't have to be something very complex and difficult. There are a number of procedures for renting a flat that need to be done before, during and after renting, including the more bureaucratic part of collecting documents and papers.

Before renting an apartment

Before renting a flat you should take into account the advantages and disadvantages as well as assess the financial situation and location of the property. And, even before moving on to this process, you need to think about whether renting an apartment is the best solution for your personal and professional life.

Advantages

The choice of renting a flat can provide several advantages. Among them we can list:

• Less commitment - it is a process that is carried out more easily since leasing brings less commitment than buying;
• Less responsibility - you only have to worry about paying the rent and the initial deposit. Condominium, insurance and IMI are the responsibility of the landlord;
• Less risky - if there are any unforeseen expenses and budgets, you will only have to put aside the amount of the rent;
• More mobility - it is possible to move house more easily, when necessary, complying with the provisions of the rental agreement;
• Advantage for young people - for those who are young, they can apply for rental support programmes such as Porta 65.

Disadvantages

Renting a flat also has its disadvantages compared to a flat of your own:

• You will have to deal with a landlord which may not be very pleasant at times. This is not always the case, but it may happen;
• The planning of a tenant's life depends on the decision of the owner who may wish to terminate the contract, within the terms of the law and the contractual period, at any time;
• The tenant may not make changes to the property without prior permission.

Financial Status

In addition to having to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of renting a flat, the financial situation must be taken into account so that the effort rate does not exceed 30%. You need to calculate what impact the rent will have on the household's monthly income.

Property Location

Before renting a flat, you need to understand how far the house is from the workplace, transport (if you don't have a car), business and even hospitals and schools. Houses relatively close to train stations and good transport interconnection networks tend to be more expensive.

Proceed to apartment rental

After considering the above aspects, progress should be made in the rental process. You should start by searching for apartments. As it may not be a simple task, Real Estate Buy House Portugal can help in this process.

You can rent an appartment through a mediator, as is our case, or directly with the landlord. Whether you choose one option or another, you will have to follow all the necessary steps.

Visiting the house

Pay attention to all details and clear up all doubts before renting an  apartment.

Find out if the house is in good condition, in terms of humidity, security, painting, electricity and plumbing, for example. Ask about the year of construction of the property and when the most recent improvements were made.

It is very important to understand if the area is calm, if there is a good atmosphere between neighbours and to agree with the landlord the details and define all the rules. All works are the responsibility of the landlord, unless otherwise stipulated in the contract.

Rental contract

The contract is the document that legitimises the rights and duties of landlords and tenants and may be concluded for a fixed or indefinite period. It should always be in writing.

The necessary documents for the tenant are the identity card, proof of residence and income. The landlord must present the Urban Land Register (caderneta predial), Energy Certificate, Content Certificate and Housing License.

The contract must contain the identification of the parties, identification of the property, rental period, rent conditions and guarantees and rules stipulated between landlord and tenant. The guarantors' data, if any, must also be included in the contract.

Every housing lease must have three copies: one for the landlord, one for the tenant and a third for the tax authorities.

Guarantor

It is usual for a landlord to request a guarantor in order to guarantee the rent payments in case the tenant fails to make a commitment.

Security deposit

Usually before renting a flat, the landlord asks for one or two months rent to safeguard situations of default.

After renting an apartment

After signing the contract, it is time to think about water, electricity, gas, internet and television. If the landlord has a supply contract, he only has to change the responsible for the payment, and for this the rental contract is always necessary. If the landlord does not already have these services, the tenant must contract them out.

Come and see the apartments to rent from Buy House Portugal!