There are many issues, here. The rules vary - and the ‘interpretations’ also vary, according to the individual property and the individual camara. Certainly, your estate agent can provide information, but I would never rely on an estate agent, or on a solicitor recommended by an estate agent, for full, accurate, and impartial advice. And builders are also all too willing to bend the rules, so be careful on that account. For questions involving the property, I would find an architect and ask them (don’t worry, as the costs are reasonable). They can look at the house documents, can determine your situation, and if necessary liaise with the Camara’s architect - or you could see that person yourself if you are ok with the language.

The rules surrounding property alterations are, to the UK immigrant, obscure, opaque, mysterious and the have a rationale that can be occult and unfathomable. I don’t really get some of them. For example, we have an annexe, well built and habitable. It is legally built, and we can include a bathroom and kitchen. But, because if the structure of the plots of land that make up our property, we cannot get a habitation licence for it.

Another rule relates to the urban area, and the maximum size you can add to your property. If the area occupied by your property is the same as the maximum permitted area, you cannot add to it. Again, your documents will show this. Incidentally, you could, add, say, a covered barbecue area, as long as the cover is not something solid, like tile, but is (for example) wires with plants growing along them. But, despite what I have just written, it would be wise to check this out for yourself.

Same applies to gas heaters - but, here, my prime concern would be that of safety. Our property is served by three of them, all propane with individual bottles. I think it would be a good idea to have them all serviced, and the canalisador - plumber - will be able to give you sensible advice and should also tell you which gas to use. Ours supplies the gas as well. As always, you need to judge the veracity of your advice, and look elsewhere if you are not sure. Incidentally, it is common for trained canalisadors also to be trained electricians, and they are competent on minor building works.

I think the real challenge here is not that of asking the questions. The challenge is finding out that there are questions needing to be asked.

Yes, I might be tempted to do something like containers on land the Portuguese way, as long as it is not too visible from a road. Sometimes neighbours do shop people to the Camara - a potential spanner in the works. The point is that a container can be moved away if need be. I personally would not extend that approach to anything more permanent, though.

As far as farm implements are concerned, used machinery is not that expensive, and it really is down to the kind and size of machinery you want vs the cost of importation (unless, of course, it might merely sit in the container and thus cost you no more). For example, a good used 25hp 4wd machine might cost in the order of about 3500 euros (more, if you want to be able to use it on public roads). A new 90cm flail mower might be about 700 euros, and used tools such as various harrows perhaps 300 to 400 euros. Last year I bought a nice little 4wd iseki, flail mower, rotavator, spring harrow, and heavy roller, for a total of about 6500 euros. Obviously bigger machines will cost more...but transport will also be pricier. If you want to let me know what kind of equipment you are looking for I’ll be happy to get some guide prices for you from local suppliers.

Jus to clarify the point about use on roads. If you wish to do so then the tractor must be ‘matriculated’, which means being road prepared and with a number plate. And a relatively new law means that you should attend a training course and pass a test - I guess that something close to zero % of the population has done this, at least so far. I could be wrong on this next point, but I think it is difficult to matriculate a non-matriculated tractor and, as has already been mentioned, they are more expensive. If you have a matriculated tractor you can obtain a licence to buy green diesel, which is about 1/3 cheaper than road diesel....but without that card you might still fins a fuel station prepared to sell it to you anyway (another example of the Portuguese way!)

I don’t know if you can buy used oil. Using that might be a serious breach of environmental regulations....something to check out, because if it is a breach it could lead to rather more than a light slap on the wrist.

Your idea of coming across with a container is sheer genius, by the way!

Spot on, Macliam.

Nope. The regulations are strict, but the enforcement isn’t.