Licença de Habitação (Habitation License) in Portugal

To improve living conditions in Portugal the Portuguese government passed a law on 7th August 1951 stating all properties constructed as a habitable dwelling after this date have to conform to a basic habitable standard.

Properties constructed prior to 1951 do not need to have this document. However they must have a certificate from the Câmara stating they were constructed prior to 1951. If a property, originally constructed before 1951, is renovated an application must be made by the council for a Licença de Habitação and a licence of use (Licença de Utilização).

Recently the Portuguese government have made more changes to the law and any properties constructed after 2004 must also have a Technical File (Ficha Technica de Habitação) which details the construction method and materials of the property.

Anyone looking to purchase a property in Portugal should take care to check the property has a Licença de Habitação or the equivalent pre-1951 certificate. Any properties without these documents have never been intended as a habitable dwelling.

Properties without these documents can, even after restoration work, be difficult to get change of use licences.

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