Notification to the Condominium Administration

What Is It?

This is the legal obligation of the new property owner to inform the building’s condominium administration (administração do condomínio) that ownership of the property has changed.

Since amendments to the Portuguese Civil Code in 2022, this notification became a formal legal requirement, not just good practice.

What Is It For / Why Is It Important?

Payment Responsibility
The condominium needs to know who the new owner is in order to correctly issue condominium fee notices (quotas de condomínio).
Until notification is made, payment communications may continue to be sent to the previous owner, creating legal confusion.

Safety and Emergency Contact
Allows the building administrator to contact you directly in urgent situations, such as water leaks, structural issues, or fire incidents.

Participation Rights
Ensures you receive notices for condominium meetings (assembleias de condóminos) and can exercise your voting rights as an owner.

How and Where Is It Done?

The new owner must send written notification to the condominium administrator, typically by:

• registered letter (carta registada), or

• email with proof of delivery or read confirmation.

What Information Must Be Included?

Under Article 1437.º of the Portuguese Civil Code (Código Civil), the notification should contain:

• Full name and Portuguese Tax Number (NIF — Número de Identificação Fiscal)

• Residential address (if different from the purchased property)

• Contact details (telephone and email)

• Proof of ownership
  (A full deed is not required — an updated Permanent Property Certificate (Certidão Permanente Predial) or simplified ownership proof is sufficient.)

What Does It Cost?

€0 — Free
This is purely an administrative legal obligation.

Deadline

The notification must be completed within 15 days after the property transfer.

Important: What Happens If You Don’t Notify?

If the new owner fails to inform the condominium, the previous owner may continue to be charged condominium fees after the sale.

Although the former owner can later claim reimbursement through legal action, this situation frequently creates unnecessary disputes — making prompt notification in both parties’ interest.