Portugal
Last verified August 7, 2026
Written for U.S. passport holders
Deposit Rules
- Under the NRAU (Novo Regime do Arrendamento Urbano), the deposit (caução) is capped at 2 months' rent for both residential and non-residential leases.
- The deposit guarantees compliance with the contract — unpaid rent, damage, or end-of-lease cleaning — and must be returned if there's nothing to deduct.
Notice Periods & Eviction Protections
- As a tenant ending a lease early, required notice is 120 days for contracts longer than 1 year, or 60 days for contracts of 1 year or less.
- If a landlord wants the property back for personal/family use or major renovation, they must give at least 6 months' notice and, in some cases, pay compensation equivalent to 2 years' rent.
- Tenants over 65 or with serious disabilities have added protection against arbitrary eviction beyond the general rules.
The Gotcha
Portugal gives real teeth to a landlord's ability to reclaim a property for personal use — but only if they follow the process: minimum 6 months' notice, and potentially owing you 2 years' rent in compensation. A landlord vaguely saying they 'need the place back' with short notice isn't automatically entitled to it under Portuguese law.
Sources
This page was drafted from the primary sources below. Rules change — check the linked page directly before relying on any of this.
- Legislação sobre o Arrendamento Urbano (NRAU) — Portal da Habitação, Portugal