Imminent relocation from UK to Lisbon at short notice
Nov 12th 2018, 12:53 am
#16
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Re: Imminent relocation from UK to Lisbon at short notice
Not sure which part of Lisbon you've been to but English is widely spoken, at least everywhere in the city centre. *Everyone* under the age of 35 understands a good level of English and many speak it very well.
Nov 12th 2018, 6:35 am
#17
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Re: Imminent relocation from UK to Lisbon at short notice
Thank you so much for your time and your answer. Since posting this we have discovered that we cannot get a reliable long term rental in the Algarve. ALL the contracts are holiday let contracts - even the ones that say they are long term. Which means that we can be evicted at 3 months notice, and I’m told that this often happens because the owners can charge whopping huge rents for short stays in the summer. I do not want to move my family to the Algarve and settle them into school only to be made homeless in the summer with no chance of affording the local prices. We have therefore decided to rent in Cascais, Lisbon initially whilst we take our time looking for somewhere to buy in the Algarve. Cascais rents are, indeed, eye-wateringly expensive (€3,500-€4,000 per month!) but at least that market offers proper 12 month or 24 month lease contracts where the owner cannot evict you early. There are bi-lingual schools and an expat community. It’s taken a week of relentless research to find all this out but as we are not able to buy a place for a year or so, we have decided on the security of a long term let. Thanks, all of you, for your help. Now does anyone have a house in Cascais they want to rent out? 😁
Last edited by TigerMartin; Nov 12th 2018 at 6:39 am.
Nov 12th 2018, 8:11 am
#18
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Re: Imminent relocation from UK to Lisbon at short notice
For sure you can get what you want in the Algarve - everything is possible if you speak to the right company. Most of the better property management companies will go out of their way to help someone like you and will set aside some admin time to help with the relocation process too. I have sent you a PM with a short list of suggested contacts.
Nov 12th 2018, 9:00 am
#19
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Re: Imminent relocation from UK to Lisbon at short notice
Thank you so much for your time and your answer. Since posting this we have discovered that we cannot get a reliable long term rental in the Algarve. ALL the contracts are holiday let contracts - even the ones that say they are long term. Which means that we can be evicted at 3 months notice, and I’m told that this often happens because the owners can charge whopping huge rents for short stays in the summer. I do not want to move my family to the Algarve and settle them into school only to be made homeless in the summer with no chance of affording the local prices. We have therefore decided to rent in Cascais, Lisbon initially whilst we take our time looking for somewhere to buy in the Algarve. Cascais rents are, indeed, eye-wateringly expensive (€3,500-€4,000 per month!) but at least that market offers proper 12 month or 24 month lease contracts where the owner cannot evict you early. There are bi-lingual schools and an expat community. It’s taken a week of relentless research to find all this out but as we are not able to buy a place for a year or so, we have decided on the security of a long term let. Thanks, all of you, for your help. Now does anyone have a house in Cascais they want to rent out? 😁
Nov 12th 2018, 2:14 pm
#20
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Re: Imminent relocation from UK to Lisbon at short notice
Ok, it looks like the Algarve is back in the running! Mr Bife has kindly referred me to a property that may take a long term rental with formal long term contract. It’s in Almancil. Anybody know what this place is like? Has it a bi-lingual school and a bit of life? I’m going over for a look-see weekend after next. Thanks to everyone who helped me. Anybody rate Almancil as a fun place to live, not too quiet?
Nov 12th 2018, 2:25 pm
#21
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Re: Imminent relocation from UK to Lisbon at short notice
Ok, it looks like the Algarve is back in the running! Mr Bife has kindly referred me to a property that may take a long term rental with formal long term contract. It’s in Almancil. Anybody know what this place is like? Has it a bi-lingual school and a bit of life? I’m going over for a look-see weekend after next. Thanks to everyone who helped me. Anybody rate Almancil as a fun place to live, not too quiet?
Vilamoura itself typical holiday marina environment. Bulging in the summer not absolutely dead in winter.
Convenient for Faro airport and a short run from new Ikea-sponsored shopping centre.. Nearby Loule also a pleasant town.
Summary - in the heart of the Expat community with all the right good quality services but it is the Algarve not Brighton.
Nov 12th 2018, 2:37 pm
#22
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Re: Imminent relocation from UK to Lisbon at short notice
Almancil is the heart of the " golden triangle " close to the most expensive and upmarket parts of the Algarve.
An area where many Brits and others in their home countries entertainment and media have second or holiday homes.
Hotels with luxury spas.
A new shopping centre which opened last year.
The area is the expat capital off the Algarve..
An area where many Brits and others in their home countries entertainment and media have second or holiday homes.
Hotels with luxury spas.
A new shopping centre which opened last year.
The area is the expat capital off the Algarve..
Nov 12th 2018, 2:45 pm
#23
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Re: Imminent relocation from UK to Lisbon at short notice
Thank you guys. It sounds wonderful! Just up
my street!
my street!
Nov 12th 2018, 5:22 pm
#24
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Re: Imminent relocation from UK to Lisbon at short notice
We have just been trawling around the Algarve to find someone to make gates for us, Every single person we spoke to in four different companies did not speak English. and this is ex-pat central.
Nov 12th 2018, 5:34 pm
#25
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Re: Imminent relocation from UK to Lisbon at short notice
Spent a lot of time in Lisbon Sherbert. Certainly most young people can speak English ! I am thinking of the sort of people they will have to come in contact with on a daily basis . ie service people, agents etc. They won't be sitting in cafes all the time.
We have just been trawling around the Algarve to find someone to make gates for us, Every single person we spoke to in four different companies did not speak English. and this is ex-pat central.
We have just been trawling around the Algarve to find someone to make gates for us, Every single person we spoke to in four different companies did not speak English. and this is ex-pat central.
Nov 13th 2018, 4:49 pm
#26
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Re: Imminent relocation from UK to Lisbon at short notice
GeniB, good point: my only reference is 'daily life' rather than administrative/official business. That said, last time I was there, I was looking in a random real estate agent's window in Campo de Ourique out of curiosity, and was pounced upon by someone inside who had a whole set of English flyers and business cards at the ready for English speaking customers.
Nov 13th 2018, 7:31 pm
#27
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Re: Imminent relocation from UK to Lisbon at short notice
No EMR , tried many other places though, including one run by a one handed South African in Messines. He also came with a warning that he could be 'excentric'
Latest guy recommended by our Portuguese / Swiss neighbours. He seemed keen to do the job ( only spoke Portuguese) but we have been here before
Nov 13th 2018, 7:34 pm
#28
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Re: Imminent relocation from UK to Lisbon at short notice
GeniB, good point: my only reference is 'daily life' rather than administrative/official business. That said, last time I was there, I was looking in a random real estate agent's window in Campo de Ourique out of curiosity, and was pounced upon by someone inside who had a whole set of English flyers and business cards at the ready for English speaking customers.
Nov 14th 2018, 5:46 pm
#29
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Posts: 65
Re: Imminent relocation from UK to Lisbon at short notice
Lagos, wonderful city. Been living here for 2 years. So much to do even in winter. My diary has never been so full.
You don't need to speak Portuguese. Big expat community. Private schools way much cheaper than in the UK but state schools are very good.
House much cheaper than along the central Algarve coast.
Wonderful beaches and close to the west coast as well.
Love it.
You don't need to speak Portuguese. Big expat community. Private schools way much cheaper than in the UK but state schools are very good.
House much cheaper than along the central Algarve coast.
Wonderful beaches and close to the west coast as well.
Love it.
Nov 14th 2018, 5:58 pm
#30
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Posts: 65
Re: Imminent relocation from UK to Lisbon at short notice
If you choose the Algarve I suggest you get a 3/4 month winter let from Jan to April or possibly May. There are a lot of holiday apartments/ villas that the owners are happy to rent out over winter at a highly reduced rate. This would then give you plenty of time to buy or find a long let.
When we first moved out we did a winter let from November to May. I found our let by searching.owners direct website for suitable homes ande messging the owners. Some weren't interested but many were. We ended up renting a large 2 bedroom apartment in a condo with a large pool for 500€ per month (excluding bils, gas, electricity, water). Just a course of hundred metres from the beach. We then bought a villa just around the corner.
We were apprehensive when we came out about finding somewhere to live. We shouldn't have been.
When we first moved out we did a winter let from November to May. I found our let by searching.owners direct website for suitable homes ande messging the owners. Some weren't interested but many were. We ended up renting a large 2 bedroom apartment in a condo with a large pool for 500€ per month (excluding bils, gas, electricity, water). Just a course of hundred metres from the beach. We then bought a villa just around the corner.
We were apprehensive when we came out about finding somewhere to live. We shouldn't have been.