Do I need an energy certificate to sell my offshore property?

Written by Offshore Property on 2009/01/13 – 10:56 PM

The answer to this question depends on how you want to purchase or sell your property:

Selling or buying a property in your private name

If you plan to sell or buy your new property in your own name the energy certificate is legal requirement to exchange the property. So you do need an energy cerfificate.

Selling or buying a property in an corporate structure

When buying a property in a corporate structure you are buying the shares of the company that is the registered owner in the portuguese Land Register. Since there is no change in the Land Register there are no legal documents like the habitation license or energy certificate required. However you should make sure that under all circumstances your property is able to get these documents. If you want to sell your property again and for some reasons someone wants to get the property “onshore” and buy it in his private name you would definately need this documents. Without a habitation license a property could even be subject to a demolition.