"AL " Tourist Rental Licensing process

BONDI · Post by **BONDI** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 12:47 pm

Gambrinus.

Any progress on the costings front? keen to look into this matter further.

thanks

BONDI

Gambrinus · Post by **Gambrinus** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 2:41 pm

Hi Bondi,

Sorry it took so long, but the end of the year is always a bit of a hassle.

At the beginning of the week we got our first two certifications for touristic rental in the form of a letter that stated that the houses that were visited in December met the criteria.

Essentials:
Fire safety (fire blanket & extinguisher 6 KG)
Gas certificate if applicable

Electrcians certificate and signed maintenance contract for the electrical installation. This contract outlines the responsibility of the certified electrician to visit the house 2 times per year to check on the electrical installtion. The owner is also bound to notifying the electrician of any modifications to the electrical installation. Costs for this range from €100 - €200 pA depending on the complexity of the installation.

Essential electrical modifications included:
Grounding of all outlets and electrical gear (you would not beleive how many wall outlets are not grounded in the older houses)
Modification of the fuse box to meet current standards (out with the old plywood boxes).
Re-locating the electric meter to the outer perimeter of the premises (We assume that it will be obligatory to move all metering equipment to the outer perimeter soon, as is the case with new builds)
Cost varies according to the complexity of the necessary modifications.

Signs:
"AL" plaque located so it is visible from the outside.
Floorplan with location of the exits and fire fighting equipment.

The visits were conducted at lightning speed so I cannot say if they or we may have overlooked something in the process, but I beleive this to be accurate.

G.

BONDI · Post by **BONDI** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 9:59 pm

Gambrinus,

many thanks for update, its very interesting how different camara operate. silves little diff. approach. i have apt, in blocks of flats, so mine was very basic, just handed usual papers, 4 months ago. and no reply from camara so i assume as 60 nday deadline has passed, my stamped accepted papers with application should act as tacid approval. fingers crossed, yes it is very time consuming process, sooner its sorted better it will be,so glad i am done with it.

if there is any further light you can throw on this matter, it will help other forum members,if they wish to apply, OR. JUST TAKE A CHANCE. I read in papers today that hotel occupancy during christmas period was down by 60%, SO NO DOUBT HOTELIERS will put pressure on camara, to try to cut number of beds available for tourists via vcilla and apartgment rentals , and this may prompt camaras to get tough with this licensing business,

BONDI

Bruce Wallis · Post by **Bruce Wallis** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 7:03 am

I have heard from a normally reliable source that the Lagoa Camra may shelve the tourist licence idea for a year because they are concerned about the down turn, and the number of fringe beds that could be taken out of the system by owners that just cant face the hassle of registration.

They seem loathe to do anything that may do any damage to the already under stress economy of the area.

Any comments?

e-richard · Post by **e-richard** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 11:07 am

That is such an untypically smart idea that I don't believe it

BONDI · Post by **BONDI** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 3:14 pm

Richard

I agree with you. It sounds like a great idea, BUT. I dont see how that would work especially now this matter is being handled by the central government via a decree-law.so it may not be as easy to have individual camaras to choose how they wish to implement this law. But then may be i may be wrong? I AM STILL looking for the plaque for my property, but gather this is optional. you dont have to have this displayed on your property, and silves camara do have them but nobody knows how much to charge for them,if anybody out there knows where i can buy one please do let me know.

Bondi

BONDI · Post by **BONDI** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 9:13 pm

To all

Has somebody recently gone for this AL license? would love to hear about their experience.I know it is a long shot, but who knows, some brave soul might have attempted it.

Bondi

Mexican Pete · Post by **Mexican Pete** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 4:48 pm

I have heard from a normally reliable source that the Lagoa Camra may shelve the tourist licence idea for a year because they are concerned about the down turn, and the number of fringe beds that could be taken out of the system by owners that just cant face the hassle of registration.

They seem loathe to do anything that may do any damage to the already under stress economy of the area.

Any comments?

Bad news for those of us who’ve put in an application. If they were to take unlicensed beds out of the system, those of us who have applied for (and hopefully get) a license would benefit; and rightly so! That of course (naively) assumes that the licensing system will be enforced!!

BONDI · Post by **BONDI** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 8:58 am

Pete

I think you may probably right with your assumption. I feel this go slow process to be adopted by Lagoa CAMARA might just do what you are suggesting, ie, taking over supply of beds out of the sysytem, and camara might enforce the licensing business more stringently. I would like to hear from any forum members who have recently applied, or are in the process of applying for license to see, what CAMARA of LAGOA and other CAMARA'S are doing about this.

Bondi

BONDI · Post by **BONDI** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 2:49 pm

To all.The following extract is from this weeks ALGARVE RESIDENT. It may be of some interest to forum members, with regards to Rental licensing.

“A recent article in a Spanish newspaper pointed to there being 90,000 apartments that are illegally rented each year,” he said.

According to the President of the regional association of Algarve Câmaras (AMAL), Macário Correia, the problems of private properties being rented out illegally has also provided a challenge to the Portuguese government, which has responded by creating a licence for property owners to declare this activity.

“Câmaras have faced new challenges in the last two decades with licensing and providing basic infrastructures for isolated and often ruined homes that have been bought and refurbished by foreigners,” said Macário Correia.

In response to the problems described and warnings of the irreversible damages caused by unplanned residential developments, many speakers also pointed out some key solutions to pull Portugal, and the Algarve region in particular, out of the crisis.

Macário Correia, President of the association of Algarve Câmaras (AMAL).

“There is no need to cry over spilt milk. Now is the time to act,” said António Pina. “In Chinese, the word crisis also means opportunity, and so the ERTA will do what it can to promote the residential tourism product.”

Bondi

Scarpetta · Post by **Scarpetta** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 5:09 pm

Hi all,

I have recently been told that the Camara at Lagoa are putting all licenses on hold for this year and possibly next year too. Has anyone else heard the same?

Bruce Wallis · Post by **Bruce Wallis** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 5:44 pm

I heard a similar rumour. Something to do with the local businesses putting pressure on due to the current financial problems. I heard they also want to postpone the pedestrianisation of restaurant hill.
whether it's true or not, I dont know....but it's a good rumour, but I do know that the restauranteers have been lobbying the Camra.

BONDI · Post by **BONDI** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 9:03 pm

How interesting to hear the latest on intentions of Lagoa Camara, may be there is some truth in the rumour after all. i am sure sooner or later we will get some formal response,or update from lagoa, and other camaras, especially in the present economic climate, some things may make sense, especailly in the algarve which depends a lot on tourism, and cant afford to not LEARN FROM THE SPANISH EXAMPLE. of over development along the coast, and now with crredit crunch we are going to see a lot less building activity,i suspect lot of building companies are going to go bust, especially off plan purcase of property market is finished.

Bondi

BONDI · Post by **BONDI** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 9:57 am

Seems Cowboy on the forum has picked up on the comments i pasted on my post here, to me the article seemed bit confusing too, but then, so do too many other things in portugal , may be that is the beauty of this country, i suppose we should be used to it by now, never the less, it is nice to know they are at least taking about the down turn in tourism in portugal, and lets wait and see what comes out of this conference.I am not keeping my fingers crossed though.

Bondi

BONDI · Post by **BONDI** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 2:03 pm

Dear Folks

Has none of you gone through this "al"Licensing process since my last posting? If any one of you have it will be good to read of your experiences. Gambrinus any more news from you? done any more applications for license?

Bondi