Red Eric

Does it have its own water supply?

macliam

Sorry, yes, away from food.......

Be very, very wary of buying with the idea of "improvement". If the architect is local (and honest) they will know the likely restrictions on rebuilding - if not, all bets are off. Different camaras apply the rules differently, some seem to be as obstructive as possible, most will insist on certain features (which you may not want) and all will take their sweet time in deciding whether or not you can proceed. Even agreement in principle is no guarantee.

Sorry to sound so negative - but I speak as someone who has caught the wrong end of this process and am now in the second year of "improvements".

EMR

It took us almost two years to get our final approval and that was for a plot in an urbanisation with project approvals .
The position of Windows, type of glass, clear or obscure., the min % of the plot
that should not be built on, the exact position of the pool on the plot etc ,etc.
Patience is a virtue in Portugal.

Pilou

There is (very recently) mains water and there was already mains electricity.

The real estate agent told us he was not sure that we could extend. The existing house is too small for us.

We went to the camara and there they told us we can extend to 300m². He double checked and confirmed. We were surprised ...... and still sceptic.

Pilou

I can imagine that it can take a long time before approval. We are not in a hurry, because we can accept the house as it is for the coming years.

Red Eric

What size is the plot? When you mentioned having some land above, it didn't sound like a small town garden you were after. Even a modest plot would benefit from having its own (eg borehole or similar rather than mains) water supply, especially if you've any ambitions for horticulture.

Pilou

The plot is 1000m², so not very big. A well would be a plus, but there is no borehole. We plan to gather the rainwater in an underground tank.

Red Eric

That's a really nice size, in my opinion - same as mine, in fact. Depending on what you want it gives great scope provided you've got plenty of sunlight, good soil and plentiful water.

Ours has a couple of lawned areas with fruit trees, shrub and flower borders, a large patio and a substantial vegetable plot surrounded by vines. I grow a lot for the kitchen - and it's surprising the range and quantity that can be grown on a plot that size. We have more potatoes and onions than we can eat each year before they deteriorate, for example, even though they'll keep well for months on end and that still leaves room to grow plenty else besides.

We do have the good fortune to have 2 sources of water besides the mains - a spring-fed tank and a well with pump - to keep it all well watered. I've never tried storing rainwater, though. Sounds like a plan.

GeniB

We bought a dog ramp for Senga, she totally refused to use it.even with doggie treats placed strategically along it. It sits behind the garden shed now.Our method is now to place her front paws on the sill of the car boot (its a 4x4 so high) then an arm under her nether regions and 'hoik' her into the air . She then walks forward into the car...

GeniB

If you can get a look at the equivalent of 'Land charges ' office you can see what the official 'footprint' of the property is. It will give the exact size of the plot and the exact size of the footprint for a building on that plot. if you can't spread out ,maybe you can go up!?

Pilou

We had difficulties too. We tried to lift him in the boot the way you do, but he is old and it hurts when we lift him now. The rampe is our only solution.
But without the dog leash it does not work for him. Without it, he falls off the ramp ......

Pilou

'To go up' is not allowed. Now only ground floor is allowed in that area.

EMR

You may also need to include your water storage in your proposed plans.
Ruins near us and old houses have been redeveloped but always within the existing footprint.
Lagoa Camara are one of the stricter councils as we know from experience.
It is a sometimes a good thing.
We have a very large area not too far from us with a partially built structure on it.
It turns out that the land was bought by a middle East investment group who wanted to build a 5 star hotel and resort.
They tried to change the outline permission to a 6 storey hotel.
Nothing that high is now permitted.
Lagoa council would not fold when threatened with them walking away, which is what happened.

Pilou

The main problem is:
The access is 5 meters long on the land of the neighbour. This access is for many years in the documents of the Camara. But, it is not in the deeds. The notary (a long time) ago has forgotten to put it in.
The camara of Lagoa tells us there is no problem, because the access-right to that house is here in the papers.
Strange enough, the real estate agent says there is a problem that it is not in the deeds.
As a former lawyer, I know you can always have legal access to your house.

But, do we want all this fuzz, all this stress? We don't know yet.

In the mean time we are looking at a small apartment ........

EMR

An apartment with a large dog ?
Maybe not fair on him, you or the neighbours.