reddotuna

Hello

we are just buying a new build villa in Almancil. Can anyone feedback on how long it took for the Loulé Camara to grant habitation license over the last 6-12 months for a newly built property? Thanks.

Dafty

I expect there are various factors involved with every case, but a friend has just received his Habitation License from Loule Camera.
From application to issue took over 3 years !!!

reddotuna

good grief! I believe it’s not that long for new properties but older ones can take forever. Hoping your friend was in the latter category!

Loco

I am well out of date but from memory it takes from a few days to a few weeks IF ALL the paperwork is in order once the construction has been signed off.

I presume you used a lawyer who included in the PC your purchase was subject to a habitation license being granted.

Best
Loco

Alan PT

Not in your area, but our builder (who builds small numbers of houses very local to him and knows the council well) thought we would have the habitation license for our new build in December, about two months after he submitted the final paperwork. We actually got it in May (but admittedly there was some Covid effect, this was. 2020). A colleague buying a new build apartment in Lisbon waited almost 9 months from completion of his apartment before he got a licence.

It's really a lottery (and of course, you hear the bad stories, not the ones where it all happened smoothly and quickly), but don't be surprised if it does take a few months. It's not uncommon for people to move in (if the vendor trusts them) then pay for the property once the licence finally arrives. A friend effectively lived rent free for almost a year because of this. Note however, that it's very much not allowed to live somewhere without a license and if you get caught then you will be fined!

macliam

Do NOT even think about buying a place that has no habitation licence.

If your lawyer suggests this is OK, sack him and find an honest one.

Alan PT

Oh, yes, that's a good point. I was assuming that OP meant "buying" as in signing the initial contract and paying the deposit, with completion and full payment within (eg 30 days) of the habitation licence being received

wellinever

It depends on whether or not the Camara will do a Vistoria, which today they dont do on all new builds.
If a vistoria is required then Covid has delayed visits and therefore HL. Of course in addition to that there has been much more activity over the last 3 years with lots of new properties needed HL, and that applies to all areas.
Try asking the `planning dept` at your council of the position, you will need the Project number of the house (not building license). Builder can give you that.
There will be an assistant that maybe can help.