Complex words.
Simple explanations.

A separate and independent space intended for human habitation and not being used for another purpose at the reference date.

Acquiring ownership through uninterrupted possession over a prolonged period.

Portugal's Energy Agency: a non-profit association serving the public interest by promoting and carrying out activities in energy and related policy areas.

Land adjacent to an urban property that can be enjoyed by its occupiers and forms a single unit with the building.

Family-style accommodation in private homes on agricultural holdings, allowing guests to experience and participate in agricultural activities.

Household income before deductions, earned during the previous calendar year.

A dwelling within a building containing several dwellings.

A process in which parties to a dispute agree that a third party will decide it.

In a contract involving reciprocal obligations, either party may transfer their contractual position to a third party if the other party agrees.

Court seizure of assets when a debtor fails to pay. The debtor loses the right to dispose of the assets; if non-payment continues, the court sells them and uses the proceeds to pay the creditor.

The allocation of a good or service by judicial or administrative decision or contract. In public works, it is the decision accepting a contractor's proposal.

A credit operation in which a bank guarantees to a beneficiary that its customer's obligations will be performed.

An interest rate used to index a loan's contractual rate so that it follows changes in the benchmark under the agreed terms.

The person receiving a loan and paying interest: the debtor.

Defining land boundaries through markers, boundary stones or permanent natural features such as rivers or rocks.

An independent covered construction bounded by exterior or party walls running from foundations to roof, intended for housing, commerce or services.

The relationship between buildings and their façades and the layout of streets, including roads, pavements, infrastructure and parking areas.

The volumetric limit within which buildings must fit, taking account of façade alignment, depth, entrance level, maximum façade height and total height.

Space considered in planning and not occupied by construction: a measure of volume rather than a defined form.

Transfer of a commercial or industrial tenant's contractual position without requiring the landlord's authorisation.

A register describing and valuing urban, rural and other properties.

The gain from the difference between the disposal value, net of selling costs, and acquisition value when certain assets are transferred for payment.

The height of a room measured between the floor and ceiling.

The obligation to compensate another person for damage. It requires a loss, an act attributable to a third party and a causal link between that act and the loss.

Shared ownership where a property is undivided and belongs to more than one owner.

The office publicising the legal status of sole traders, commercial companies, civil companies formed commercially and individual limited-liability establishments.

Information identifying a company, sole trader or individual limited-liability establishment, including its name, entry number and company or tax identification number.

The capitalisation of interest, meaning interest charged on interest. It requires an agreement after the interest falls due or judicial notification to the debtor to capitalise overdue interest.

The owners of a building who jointly manage it under the horizontal property ownership regime.

Carrying out the decisions of the condominium owners' meeting. Routine administration may be performed by an owner, a contracted third party or a company.

An agreement in which two or more individuals or entities jointly undertake an activity to pursue common objectives.

Capital-and-interest instalments remaining fixed for a specified loan period, assuming the interest rate does not change during that period.

The sum of covered floor or ceiling areas at every level of a building, under the RGEU definition.

Municipal authorisation relating to applications for certain private building works, urban infrastructure works and land subdivisions.

A record of all relevant events relating to licensed or notified works, kept at the worksite for inspection by municipal officials.

A contract in which one party grants a benefit to a third party at the other party's direction. The parties intend to establish a right for that beneficiary or confer an immediate patrimonial benefit.

A document incorporating an independent right which its holder is entitled to exercise and which can be transferred or mobilised. Instruments may be registered, payable to order or bearer instruments.

Transferring a mortgage loan from one bank to another.

A creditor's right to challenge in court certain transactions made by a debtor to reduce their assets and consequently the security available for payment.

The percentage relationship between one-twelfth of annual gross household income and the monthly loan instalment. For annual income of €6,000 and a monthly instalment of €250, the ratio is 50%.

An amount a buyer pays to a seller after deciding to buy, beginning payment for the home and demonstrating the buyer's commitment.

A plan defining in detail how a municipal area may be occupied, including urban design, building conditions, changes to existing buildings, façades and open spaces, consistent with the municipal master and urbanisation plans.

The traditional conversion of attic space into housing by adding a vertical window in one of the main slopes of the roof.

Capital released in stages for construction or renovation, according to the progress of works and inspections.

A property meeting the legal requirements to be used as a dwelling.

Repaying credit before the agreed term ends. This may involve an additional early-repayment charge.

A right or restriction relating to access or use of land. Administrative easements arise by law for public-interest reasons; private easements commonly concern water drainage, access to enclosed land or maintaining views.

A drawing of a building's façade showing its horizontal and vertical dimensions.

A charge or restriction affecting ownership, such as a mortgage, usufruct or easement.

The elevation of the floor at the building's main entrance.

A benchmark used in calculating variable mortgage interest rates, based on interbank rates. The source glossary describes a panel of 57 banks from EU and other countries and Caixa Geral de Depósitos as its only Portuguese bank. Euribor is calculated daily for standard financial-market terms.

Court proceedings in which a landlord asks the court to declare a tenancy ended and order the tenant to vacate the premises.

An agreement in which parties simultaneously transfer and receive movable or immovable assets, of equal or different values.

Failure to exercise a right within a deadline imposed by law or agreed by the parties.

A legal act removing an ownership right, which requires a legal basis and payment of fair compensation.

Works caused by construction defects, unforeseen events or force majeure which, when not due to unlawful acts or omissions by the landlord, exceed two-thirds of the year's net rental income.

A financial charge imposed on individuals or entities for certain public services or regulatory activities, constituting a form of levy.

A document containing personalised information about the terms of a mortgage offer. It includes rates, charges and other relevant information to help you analyse and compare offers.

An interest rate that stays unchanged throughout the loan's lifetime.

A tenancy agreement in which the parties specify its duration.

Each storey above the ground floor.

A drawing usually based on a horizontal section about 1.5 metres above the floor, showing rooms and their relationships. It details walls, doors, windows, room names and levels to scale.

An agreement between the owner of a registered brand or trade name and a third party wishing to use it. The brand owner provides know-how and technical assistance, while the franchisee contributes business effort towards the activity's success.

One or more buildings under horizontal property ownership with shared services and access closed to the public.

The credit regime applied by authorised financial institutions according to law, available to households using loans to buy, build or carry out conservation and improvement works on homes or common parts intended for permanent or secondary residence or letting.

A contract in which a person transfers an asset or right, or assumes an obligation, free of charge for another person's benefit, and that person accepts. It requires both parties' consent; an offer expires if not accepted during the donor's lifetime. The source states that gifts of property require a public deed.

A donor may make a gift conditional on the asset reverting if the donor outlives the recipient and all their descendants. If that condition occurs, the gifted assets return to the donor's estate.

A donor may reserve the right to use the gifted assets for themselves or another person. For property, the gift then transfers bare ownership, while the reserved usufruct covers additions, fruits, income and the right to use it.

A period during which a borrower pays interest only, before starting repayments of both capital and interest.

A contract in which one party provides a financial benefit without receiving an equivalent return, so one party benefits while the other bears a cost.

The total surface area of a dwelling, measured along the outside of exterior walls and the axes of separating walls. Under the RGEU definition, it includes private balconies, ancillary spaces and the corresponding share of common circulation areas.

A person who gives a personal guarantee in the form of an aval for another person's debt and must pay if the debtor does not.

A person who guarantees another person's debt through a surety. If the debtor does not pay, the guarantor must repay the loan and interest to the creditor.

The sum of dwelling-room areas, excluding entrance halls, internal circulation, bathrooms, storage and similar spaces. Under the RGEU definition, it is measured within the surrounding walls, excluding recesses up to 30 cm, internal walls, partitions and ducts.

A document issued by the municipality where a property is located, confirming its habitability after the applicable legal conditions have been checked.

The legal division of a building into separately owned units, together with the definition of common parts serving them. The source states that this is established by public deed.

A group consisting of spouses or partners living in equivalent circumstances, as referred to in Article 2020 of the Civil Code, and their first-degree ascendants and descendants, including stepchildren and adopted children, who share a home and meals. It may also include a single, widowed, divorced or legally separated person and those relatives living in the same household.

The Portuguese municipal tax on property, formerly the Contribuição Autárquica, charged on the taxable value of rural and urban properties in Portugal.

Rural or urban property, its associated rights and constituent parts. Water, trees, shrubs and natural fruits are also considered immovable while permanently attached to the land.

Useful work added to a property to improve it and increase its value.

Works intended to improve a property or unit which are not classified as conservation works.

The Portuguese municipal tax on onerous property transfers, formerly SISA, applying to transfers defined in its code.

A restriction preventing property from being transferred during a specified period under a contractual or legal requirement.

A separately owned part of a building divided under horizontal property ownership, such as an apartment, garage or shop.

An arrangement automatically linking a loan's interest rate to a benchmark index.

A variable interest rate made up of a benchmark rate plus a spread.

A municipal inspection checking that a building conforms to the approved project. The term also covers inspections of bank-financed works by appointed experts.

Income received by a person who lends money to another.

State support for buying a home through a contribution towards interest payments.

The source glossary currently repeats the franchising definition under this heading: an agreement allowing a third party to use a brand, with know-how and technical assistance from the owner and business effort from the operator.

A mechanism for keeping land in public ownership and managing land transactions to sell, buy or regulate land prices.

A public service under the Ministry of Justice where essential information about properties is registered, including location, boundaries, composition and successive owners. Offices exist in every municipality, with several in larger cities.

A certificate issued by the Land Registry confirming registered information about a property, including its location, composition, owners, encumbrances and transfers.

Information identifying a property's physical, economic and tax situation. The extract includes its parish-specific number, classification, name, location or boundaries, composition, area, value and tax matrix registration or omission.

The number under which a property is registered at the Land Registry, found in the deed or updated property tax records.

The free transfer of land to a municipal council for public green spaces, infrastructure or facilities in exchange for construction or subdivision approval.

An agreement giving another person temporary use of an asset in return for payment. In Portuguese, leasing immovable assets is called arrendamento and leasing movable assets is called aluguer.

An act of private autonomy to which the law attaches the creation, modification or termination of legal relationships.

The person lending capital and receiving interest: the creditor.

The source glossary currently repeats the lessor's definition under this heading: the person who grants temporary use of an asset while retaining ownership.

The person who grants temporary use of an asset while retaining ownership.

Failure to exercise a right during the period specified by law.

An agreement lending money or other fungible goods, requiring the borrower to return an equivalent of the same kind and quality.

An agreement recording the terms agreed by a lender and borrower, including amount, duration and interest rates. It may take the form of a public deed or a private document.

A free agreement in which one party lends a movable or immovable asset to another, who must return it. The source glossary states that it may be written or verbal because no particular form is specified.

The home where a borrower and, where relevant, their household maintain their settled centre of family life.

An agreement requiring one party to carry out legal acts for another. With representation, the agent acts for and in the principal's name. Without representation, the agent acts for the principal in their own name.

A document recording what happened and was decided at a meeting.

A property containing rural and urban parts where neither can be classified as the principal part.

Security giving a creditor the right to be paid from the value of a debtor's property before other creditors. Banks commonly require it for long-term loans such as home loans.

A document issued by the lending bank to cancel a mortgage.

A Land Registry entry recording a mortgage. For a home loan, a provisional mortgage registration is made first and converted to definitive registration after the loan and mortgage agreement is signed.

Contributions payable for municipal services or urban infrastructure.

A plan setting the municipality's spatial structure and local development strategy, integrating relevant national and regional policies.

Failure to fulfil an obligation, making the debtor responsible for the resulting loss to the creditor.

The source describes a public entity under the Ministry of Justice whose role is to perform certain acts and agreements or verify their legal conditions, including property purchases and mortgages requiring public deeds.

The right of either party to prevent a tenancy's renewal, provided notice is given in the manner and within the time required by law.

Charges payable for services carried out by public administration officials.

A contract involving economic effort by both parties, each receiving a benefit and bearing an economic cost.

A large space on a building's floor that can accommodate different layouts and uses.

General repairs and cleaning, works required by public authorities to restore the characteristics established when the use licence was granted, and works to keep the premises suitable for their contractual use in the condition existing when the contract began.

The right to use, enjoy and dispose of an asset within the limits and restrictions established by law.

An act in which a creditor accepts something different from what is owed, such as property, to extinguish the obligation immediately.

A legal procedure intended to give an enforceable status to a specified payment claim.

A document issued by a competent authority granting concessions or appointments, approving requests or statutes, based on existing legal provisions.

A personal guarantee given to secure payment of another person's debt.

The area of a minimum cadastral land unit intended for urban use and resulting from a subdivision operation.

The result of an urban planning operation creating one or more plots intended for construction by dividing or reparcelling land.

A document recognised before a notary giving another person authority to handle matters in the grantor's name and defining their exact powers.

An application asking a municipality about the feasibility and legal or regulatory constraints of a proposed development. The source states that a favourable response is generally binding for a subsequent licensing or notification application submitted within one year.

The total surface area measured along the external perimeter and axes of walls or other separating elements of a building or unit. Under the CIMI definition, it includes private balconies, basements and attics used in the same way as the building or unit.

A document governing the purchase of a home with a loan from an authorised bank. The source glossary describes this as an alternative to a public deed when buying with credit, without a public notary's involvement.

Written documents and drawings which together enable construction work to be carried out.

A credit instrument by which a person promises to pay a specified sum to the beneficiary or their order. Unlike a bill of exchange, it is a promise to pay rather than an instruction to pay.

A binding agreement between a prospective seller and buyer. It identifies the parties and relevant spouses, the property, agreed price, deadline for completion, penalties for non-performance and other terms.

The value assigned by the bank's appointed expert to a property used as mortgage security.

A set of information characterising and identifying properties in Portugal.

Classification of properties as rural, urban or mixed.

A professional promoting properties and developments, assuming financial risk and responsibility for the operations required to deliver them.

Managing property through entities authorised to act on behalf of its owners.

The price at which a property can be transacted without speculation, based on local price per square metre and factors including location, access and layout.

A tax-office register recording a property's composition, area, taxable value and owners or usufruct holders. A property is omitted from the matrix if it has no tax article number.

A document serving as the property's “identity card”. Issued by the tax office, it confirms registration in the property tax matrix and identifies its location, composition, area, owner and taxable value. An updated version is requested when registration at the Land Registry is needed.

The process of analysing the current or future market value of a property.

An area designated to protect particular habitats or animal species.

A written agreement signed by both parties before a notary or representative, used to transfer an asset from one owner to another. The source describes payment at this stage by certified cheque, bank transfer or cash, and public deeds as the usual form for property sales, with private-document contracts as an exception.

Works commissioned by public authorities or a concession holder for public-interest purposes.

An agreement transferring ownership of an asset or another right in return for an agreed price.

Businesses mediating property transactions and finding interested parties for their clients' proposed transactions. The source states that they must be licensed by the Instituto da Construção e do Imobiliário.

Work by a real estate agency to find a person interested in buying or selling property or establishing rights over it.

A creditor's declaration acknowledging payment. If the debtor has a legitimate interest, it may be recorded in an authentic or authenticated document or have the signature notarised.

A legal remedy allowing an owner to have their ownership recognised and recover their property.

A regional plan defining dominant uses and priority activities for land, identifying restrictions, heritage and natural-resource protection measures, and basic infrastructure locations.

A property registered at the relevant Land Registry.

A requirement publicising certain acts and protecting ownership and other rights established over property.

Registration by a builder on completion of works and by a buyer after completion of the purchase, enabling the property tax record to be issued.

A Land Registry entry recording the purchase of a property and transfer of ownership.

Contracts normally affect only their parties, with exceptions such as contracts given effects against third parties, contracts benefiting a third party and contracts for a person to be named.

Refinancing by transferring a mortgage loan from one bank to another.

Combining and then dividing land to address fragmentation and dispersion of rural properties belonging to the same owner. For agricultural and forestry purposes, it is called land consolidation.

A seller may retain ownership of a transferred asset until the buyer fulfils all or part of their obligations.

The parties voluntarily ending a contract's effects by subsequent mutual agreement.

A right allowing its holder, such as an owner or tenant, to take priority over a third party in a property transaction. Examples in the source include a tenant's preference in a sale and a co-owner's preference when another share is sold or transferred in payment.

Land outside an urban settlement which is not classified as land for construction.

The part of a commercial establishment accessible to customers, where goods are displayed or prepared for immediate delivery.

Security for obligations provided by depositing money, credit instruments, precious stones or metals, or through a pledge, mortgage or bank guarantee.

Security allowing a creditor to be paid ahead of other creditors from the value or income of specified assets, even if transferred to others, provided the security is registered.

A procedural act summoning someone to court or notifying them of a specified fact, subject to a prior court decision.

An act separating a single land parcel from a property registered or reported in the property tax matrix.

A policy of housing at controlled costs based on acquiring land at reduced prices through expropriation or agreement with owners.

Identifying territorial units to manage natural resources and distribute land occupation, use and development.

A central-government plan establishing land occupation, use and development rules, including plans for protected areas, reservoirs and the coastline.

Obtaining a court judgment that produces the effects of the contractual declaration that a defaulting party to a promissory agreement should have made.

The margin a bank adds to the Euribor benchmark interest rate.

A state charge on acts, contracts, documents, instruments and other events listed in the General Stamp Duty Table (TGIS).

Contract terms prepared without individual negotiation, which the other party merely accepts.

The power to suspend works, construction or buildings carried out contrary to the applicable legal and regulatory rules.

An agreement in which a third party undertakes to perform all or part of the work owed by a contractor.

A lease granted by a person who is themselves a tenant under an earlier lease. Authorisation or recognition from the landlord is required.

A personal guarantee in which a third party undertakes to pay a creditor if the debtor fails to pay when due.

The right to maintain a building or planting on land belonging to someone else, permanently or temporarily.

Approval considered granted when the exercise of a right requires an authority's consent and no decision is issued within the legal deadline.

A measure of the total cost of credit, expressed as an annual percentage. It includes interest and other charges and helps compare offers with the same term and repayment method.

A compulsory monetary contribution for public purposes, without an equivalent service in return and without the purpose of penalising the payer.

Exemptions, reduced rates, deductions from taxable income, depreciation, reintegration allowances and other similar tax measures.

Ending a contractual relationship by a later act of will of one party and restoring the parties to their positions before the contract.

The stone forming the step of a doorway and supporting its jambs.

A classification granted to tourist developments meeting requirements for location, construction, equipment and services and aligning with tourism policy, referred to in the source through the National Strategic Tourism Plan (PENT).

A tourist accommodation establishment consisting of functionally connected facilities providing paid accommodation and supporting services.

An agreement temporarily transferring, for payment, the operation of a commercial or industrial establishment together with the use of its premises.

The tenant's contractual position passing to another person in exceptional situations defined by law, including divorce or death.

Similar to payment in kind, but intended to facilitate fulfilment of an obligation rather than extinguish it immediately.

A reference rate for calculating subsidies, applicable for six-month periods starting on 1 January and 1 July. The source describes it as six-month Euribor on the first business day of the preceding month plus 1.5 percentage points, published by the Treasury Directorate-General.

A property over which several people share a right without division of their respective parts.

Obtaining a financial advantage at someone else's expense without a legal justification.

A property not registered at the relevant Land Registry.

Creating or upgrading infrastructure serving urban spaces or buildings, including roads, pedestrian routes, sewerage, water, electricity, gas, telecommunications, green spaces and other shared areas.

Property not classified as rural.

An agreement in which a landlord allows a tenant to use a property or unit in return for rent.

The rules governing urban tenancy, generally referred to in Articles 1022 to 1113 of the Civil Code.

Putting urban planning into practice by establishing building conditions through concrete plans.

A plan organising part of a municipality within the urban perimeter that requires an integrated planning approach.

The study and analysis of urban space using techniques and concepts to understand how to change situations and resolve existing problems.

The sum of all rooms in a dwelling, including entrance halls, internal circulation, bathrooms, storage, similar spaces and built-in cupboards, measured within the surrounding walls under the RGEU definition.

A document verifying that completed works conform to the approved project and the conditions of licensing or prior notification.

The right to use property belonging to someone else, often for life. An owner may give a home to another person while reserving its use. A mortgage loan secured on such a home requires the usufruct holder's consent.

An interest rate that changes during a loan, whether or not linked to the lender's own benchmark.

An agreement in which one party undertakes work for another in return for a price.

A planning concept classifying a territorial area intended to be homogeneous in its urban function and use.

Legal control of land use through which public authorities determine the activities permitted in an area.