Maids and maintenance

Geoff Simcox · Post by **Geoff Simcox** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 7:05 pm

Is it customary to pay for a maid, gardener and pool maintenace throughout the year when the villa is only occupied for say 75% of weeks between May and September inclusive?

Having bought a villa in Val del Rei about 2 years ago via owned by a Portuguese company, I seem to pay quarterly bills to a Portuguese accountant of 230 Euros or so per quarter when all he seems to do is file simple annual accounts for what is effectively a non trading dormant company. Is this usual?

Any advice or observations would be appreciated

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 8:19 pm

you may get away without paying for a maid for all year..but the graden and pool is an all round year job..cant comment about the accountant ...except to say that a relative who has a port comapny with a villa has to pay a tax of 1200 euros per year even though she lives there and there is no comany activity.

Ellie 2 · Post by **Ellie 2** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 9:12 pm

Geoff

We bought a villa almost 5 years ago and rent it in high season only. It is not possible to do withought gardeners and pool maintenance whether you are there or not. As far as maids are concerned, due to the condensation in the winter and early spring, it is almost essential to have someone air and clean the house on a regular basis, again, even if you are there or not. Unfortunately, all of these thingst make for high expense on running costs, but we have always been told, since holidaying on the Algarve long before we ever bought the house, that owning a house was a highly expensive way of having a holiday. Having said that, we love our house and hope that we can afford the running costs for a very long time to come!

We have an Agent who runs the house for us and pays all our bills. Cannot comment on the legal thing. That all ended with the legal costs when we bought.

Ellie 2.

Ellie 2 · Post by **Ellie 2** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 9:27 pm

Geoff

We bought a villa almost 5 years ago and rent it in high season only. It is not possible to do withought gardeners and pool maintenance whether you are there or not. As far as maids are concerned, due to the condensation in the winter and early spring, it is almost essential to have someone air and clean the house on a regular basis, again, even if you are there or not. Unfortunately, all of these thingst make for high expense on running costs, but we have always been told, since holidaying on the Algarve long before we ever bought the house, that owning a house was a highly expensive way of having a holiday. Having said that, we love our house and hope that we can afford the running costs for a very long time to come!

We have an Agent who runs the house for us and pays all our bills. Cannot comment on the legal thing. That all ended with the legal costs when we bought.

Ellie 2.