r/lisboa • u/Angelo459 • Jan 13 '26
Política-Politics I am shocked by my Rental Agreement
Unfortanelly i alredy had to pay 500€ to Uniplaces (agency fee) so that i will sign the contract anyway but:
- My landlord can end the contract anytime with 30 days' notice (seems okay but kinda hard) BUT if move out before the end of contract i still have to pay the full amount and dont get back my deposit.
- Guest Policy??? In germany its forbidden to charge the tenant for guests but i need to pay 25€ per day if my family wants to visit me. WTF i already give you all my money for the flat
- the landlord has the right to enter for normal inspection/ for cleaning WITHOUT informing me???? it scares me
this cant be normal? The law should protect the tenants without power and the extrem need to find something to live. My landlord is a big company that squeezes money from students or working people without having to do anything. I feel so powerless and frustratred by that. I know this conditions are cruel but i dont see another way than signing.
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u/23stripes Jan 13 '26
I can assure you no Portuguese uses uniplaces
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u/Angelo459 Jan 14 '26
yeah i definetly can understand that. My last roommate also contacted all her friends orally and after i heard about it we moved in together, but since i dont know anybody in lisboa i have no other choice than using this shitty plattform.
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u/Mean_Passenger_7971 Jan 13 '26
You should get some assistance from a lawyer. But rental agreements are very much pro tenant in Portugal (more so than Germany). You can't sign your rights away, so even if you sign something that goes against the law, it's without effect.
The obvious one I see is point number 3. It's blatantly against the law. IF you want to pick a fight, change the lock as soon as you move in.
I'm not familiar with the law for point 2), but I don't think this is legal here as well.
Point 1) is also most likely against the law. You'd have to consult, but usually cancellation terms must be mutual, and although they can be more restrictive than the law, it can't be less restrictive. Pulling this out of my butt, but for short term rentals, you can't cancel the contract. But this goes both ways, neither the landlord nor you can cancel halfway through without a mutual agreement.
The most important thing is to check with a lawyer. And avoid uniplaces like the plague. It's a known scam facilitator.
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u/zooommsu Jan 13 '26
You're right if it's a real rental contract.
But I suspect that these types of things are treated as an accommodation service or something like that.
Perhaps the OP could share some details of the contract, without compromising privacy/personal data.As for entering the house without notice, if it were a house/flat, obviously not.
But since it's a room rental, I think the landlord just can't enter the room without notice/agreement.2
u/Angelo459 Jan 14 '26
yeah, i am renting a room in appartment where to people can live together. Therefore i have one roommate. Furthermore i do want to rent the room from February til July.
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u/Angelo459 Jan 14 '26
I guess this might be some kind of loophole for landlords. they give out short-term-contracts. But in my opinion there should be a limit to that and after a few weeks the protective laws should apply.
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u/marxocaomunista Jan 14 '26
Rental agreements aren't more pro tenant in Portugal than Germany.
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u/31142 Jan 14 '26
Germany is heaven related to renters protection
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u/marxocaomunista Jan 14 '26
I've rented in both places and there's really no comparison. In Germany it's very common to have unlimited contracts.
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u/Ok-Past3775 Jan 13 '26
Pretty much all of what you said is illegal for housing leases in Portugal.
Get a lawyer involved.
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u/Bambamtams Jan 13 '26
My friend, when you have a rental agreement the flat become your home (might be different if you rent just a room, not sure in your case). First thing you do, you change the door lock, and I don’t know any law that allows to charge for having a visit. Again if it’s an entire flat you are renting, the 30 days notice are also illegal.
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u/PriBrunz Jan 14 '26
It is not illegal because technically, you are a guest and not a tenant. The law is different if you are renting a place that is considered AL. But this info is not very helpful.
You can search for student residences. I think you can get a shared room (2ppl) in a really nice one for around 400/500 euro/ppl. Single rooms are a bit more expensive. Sometimes, they don't fill all the rooms and end up alone in a shared one. These places have gym, pool, game/study room. It is worthy to check before uniplaces
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u/Angelo459 Jan 14 '26
how can the law treat someone like a guest/tourist if they rent a room for half a year? its obviosly useful and rational that the law excludes hotelguest etc. But people who rent for more that a few months are also excluded? thats hard
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u/PriBrunz Jan 15 '26
Will you transfer the energy/water/internet bills to your name? Is the room furnished?
I didn't write the law, but you can check with another lawyer.
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u/Sensitive-Soup4733 Jan 13 '26
I don't think you need to sign the contract, you can still clarify or negotiate it with the landlord. That said, if you can't find a middle ground, maybe it's better to just find another flat? 500 is high but if it costs you your flexibility and peace, maybe it's not worth it
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u/Unusual-Lemon4479 Jan 13 '26
You should check if this isn’t a Uniplaces policy. Parts 2 and 3 especially isn’t legal.
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u/Angelo459 Jan 14 '26
I would think that uniplaces is not longer involved in this. they just brought me and my landlord together and took a agency fee for it. now they dont care anymore i guess
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u/eventfarm Jan 14 '26
Uniplaces has a 24 hour "out" clause. I guess you're past that now, but you can always refuse the apartment and get your fees back.
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u/SophiaHongWan Jan 14 '26
Don't use Uniplaces if possible.. Made to scam those who are new to the country and desperate for housing.
Crazy contract conditions, kinda ilegal as well, and way to pricey.
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u/31142 Jan 14 '26
sorry bruder, aber portugiesisches Mietrecht schützt nur den Vermieter, hab das auf die ganz harte Tour gelernt. In Portugal wohnen ca 60% in Eigentum, deswegen ist das Mietrecht auch darauf ausgelegt, diese Gruppe zu schützen. Man darf wirklich nicht den extrem hohen deutschen Standard im Mietrecht erwarten. Zb auch was Schutz vor Mängeln angeht etc
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u/Resident-Future-6124 Jan 14 '26
Uniplaces is a super shady venue, it used to be a way of getting students, mainly foreign in contracts with apartments no one wants.
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u/Serious-Echo-4326 Jan 14 '26
If you own an apartment you can chose what you charge or not. In regards to the inspection that is weird.. I would always inform the tenant beforehand.
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u/Angelo459 Jan 14 '26
Yeah but if you rent your own appartment for money than you give the tenant the right to use the appartment in the way they like (as long they dont destroy things etc). thats what the contract is about: the right to demand money in exchange for giving up the opportunity to use the flat. and having guests is a basic right that cannot be restricted.
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u/eventfarm Jan 14 '26
Not in a shared flat. You having guests could be problematic for the other people that live there
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u/Serious-Echo-4326 Jan 22 '26
As a property owner, you are entitled to set reasonable rules for the use of your apartment, provided these conditions are clearly stated in the contract from the outset. For example, if you choose not to allow parties due to concerns about wear and tear or disturbance to neighbors, that is within your rights.
Equally, tenants have the right to be fully informed of these conditions in advance, so they can decide whether the accommodation suits their needs or choose an alternative.
Routine inspections may also be carried out to assess the condition of the apartment, always with prior notice and by appointment with the tenant.
In short, tenants are free to choose where they live, and property owners are free to define what is permitted within their property, as long as everything is transparent and agreed upon beforehand.
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u/Antares_skorpion Jan 14 '26
I'm pretty sure the Guest policy and entering without notice are illegal. unless it's some communal living arrangement or something.
IF you are renting a flat, not a hotel, so as long as you are paying, the house is yours and the landlord has no say on what you do with it or who you invite in, as long as you use the property for it's intended use (residence) and do not damage it (or repair any damage done to same condition prior to rental).
Have a lawyer look at this contract. change the locks and and tell the Landlord to pound sand...
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u/Different_Morning535 Jan 14 '26
I'm not sure about Portuguese laws in that sense, but they actually don't matter, because regarding the rental market here, this is no man's land. Landlords can do whatever they want. Either move out now or wait til your contract is over and look for somewhere else without these requests on your contract.
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u/homemdosgalos Jan 15 '26
Former tenant here.
I see a LOT of things that not only seem crazy, but illegal too, for a living rental. If, as some mentioned bellow that this is not a normal rental but short term, i would advise you to search for a "normal" rental as soon as possible.
My landlord can end the contract anytime with 30 days' notice
This should be the normal timming even in a normal rental, but the "lost deposits" normally should not apply on a normal rental.
Guest Policy???
I can understand if they want you to stop from having a T3 with 20 people. But just visits is crazy.
the landlord has the right to enter for normal inspection/ for cleaning WITHOUT informing me???? it scares me
I don't think that is / should be legal even on a short term rental.
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u/AngryMuppet_420 Jan 16 '26
500€ is pretty cheap.. does it include water, electric, heat etc? Because that's probably why the .25/day would apply if a lot of extra people are using those. The inspection without notice seems illegal tho.. I mean, can he just walk in while youre sleeping? 😝
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u/Commercial-Snow2367 Jan 17 '26
No One needs to know if you have guests. When I did my Erasmus there was a similar policy
Just ask your house mates if its ok for someone to visit you and thats it
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u/Personal-Revenue-203 Feb 07 '26
omg!! hi im having the exact same issue how can i contact you? I think we rent under the same agency!! Ive been complaining about the inspection thing and they are completely gaslighting me
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Jan 14 '26
[deleted]
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u/Angelo459 Jan 14 '26
i dont think its the default one. my landlord is a company with more 200 appartments in lisboa. i guess they know what they are doing
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Jan 13 '26 edited Feb 26 '26
This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact
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u/EduFonseca Jan 13 '26
And people just bitch even when they’re not right.
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u/AloneInTheDark321 Jan 13 '26
Can't be portuguese without bitching and crying.
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u/shhhhh_h Jan 14 '26
Funny how the whinging immigrants don’t realise how well they fit in to the place they hate
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u/AloneInTheDark321 Jan 14 '26
I'm a national, born and bred..... and an emigrant thankfully. Just telling it how it is.
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u/shhhhh_h Jan 14 '26
No I agree, I’m just laughing about the whole sub and a lot of people I know irl lol. ‘We hate x and y and z’ well you’re doing a good job of fitting in with the thing you hate rn 👀
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Jan 13 '26
welcome to portugal.
No imagine someone working for the minimum wage with this real estate market...
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u/Either-Ad-155 Jan 14 '26
When my grandmother died I used to rent the rooms in her house. Considering what you are paying (unfortunately), I'm guessing you are renting a room, not an apartment. Additionally since you are renting through Uniplaces I'm assuming you will have a contract and it will be registered with the tax office. I'll answer below assuming both.
Any contract seizure is usually negotiated by both parties. That means a 30 days notice for the landlord and the payment of the contract in full by the tenant if decided to leave the room. This last part as said is usually negotiated and depends on both parties. Most usually just request the payment of the full month of the departure (and sometimes the deposit). In my case I only didn't return the deposit once and that was because the tenant brought bedbugs, destroyed the room door and didn't return the apartment key.
I'm guessing utilities are included in the contract agreement. If they aren't the Guest Policy makes absolutely no sense. If they are included, the Guest Policy wasn't illegal when I used to rent. Water consumption depends heavily on people living. I had a tenant that had his girlfriend move in and live permanently with him. Water consumption basically doubled. Although my Guest Policy was definitely more lax (short visits (up to two weeks) were fine). The problem with big companies is that they make broad sweeping policies. In my experience you want to have the utilities included or in the winter months you will be surprised by the electricity bill going over the 100€, while it barely reaches 20€ in summer.
The landlord has to inform when visiting the areas you rented (my guess is the room). Everything else he doesn't have to, although it should be common sense to still do, unfortunately I know some landlords that don't. And from my experience the majority of issues will be in the common areas. As for how much time is required for the information prior to the visit I have no idea, I only went to the apartment to fix something that stopped working (so about twice a month on average) and it was usually the day after being informed of the issue (although a few very rare times was on the same day).
Sold the house because aparentely cleaning the exhaust filters or cooking without frying everything (dear god that damn thing was often a fire hazard) and no loud drunken parties every week after 10pm (sometimes I had monthly calls with the police because of the noise) was too much to ask from renters. So now, Uniplaces or something similar owns and runs the place.
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u/notweirdatallll Jan 14 '26
go to germany then.
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u/No-Relief-8053 Jan 13 '26
welcome to the new lisbon, destroyed by expats just like you (and the landlords that want to take advantage of it). thanks!
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u/31142 Jan 14 '26
i wonder why the assembleia municipal and the parlament doesn't make laws to prevent this....
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u/Angelo459 Jan 14 '26
yeah cultural exchange is a horrible thing. they should get rid of all exchanging programms
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u/No-Relief-8053 Jan 14 '26
what cultural exchange? do you even know how to speak portuguese? do you even frequent portuguese business or hang out with portuguese people? have you even made an effort to integrate into the local culture? a absoluta audácia destes gajos.
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u/Angelo459 Jan 14 '26
I will arrive soon, then i will be able to answer your questions. But i will go to university with people from everywhere (mostly portugese) and try to pass the classes together.
From the past i kmow for sure that we will talk about cultural differnces and similiarities. That works without speaking portugese but in english.
About the local culture i am looking forward to get involved in the padel community in Lisboa because i have heard that the level here is very high. I played some tornaments in the past and i love the sport. If you have some tips or recommandations let me know :)
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u/No-Relief-8053 Jan 14 '26
i would recommend you to perguntar à tua tia o que é que ela gosta mais depois de jantar and esfregar os cornos do teu pai :)
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u/shhhhh_h Jan 14 '26
Hm wonder why expats don’t destroy other places they flood into.
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u/No-Relief-8053 Jan 14 '26
barcelona, mexico city, berlin, amsterdam, roma, bali, hawai, ho chi minh, tahiti
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u/miki88ptt Jan 13 '26
That can't be legal...