For Consumers
Join
Accreditation
The Association
Resources
Check before you sign
Type the company or agent name, the seal code or the certificate reference. For a code, the digits are enough — the “APMLS-” is optional.
Guides and forms for buyers and sellers
Practical documents, free and with no sign-up. Take them to the meeting, fill them in by hand, compare offers.
A sheet to take to the meeting, with space to write the answers.
Price, marketing strategy, sharing with other professionals, and the length of the contract.
Buying a property in Portugal can be an exciting experience. This guide helps consumers understand the essential steps involved in purchasing a home, from searching for properties to completing the purchase.
A checklist for after the deed: registration and mortgage cancellation, IMI and tax address, keys, meter readings, condominium and insurance.
NIF, bank account, tax address, social security, electricity, water, internet and registration.
NIF, bank account, tax representative, transferring funds and power of attorney.
Caderneta Predial, Certidão Permanente, use permit, technical data sheet, energy certificate and more.
Renting a property in Portugal requires careful planning and an understanding of the rental process. This guide helps tenants find suitable accommodation, understand rental agreements, and make informed decisions.
Each term in Portuguese and English, with a short definition.
Licence, professional indemnity insurance, track record, accreditation, and what to ask at the first meeting.
APRC, spread, term, bundled insurance, fees, and what each variable actually costs you.
Structure, damp, window frames, installations, the building's management, the neighbourhood and noise.
A paper worksheet for estimating the full cost beyond the asking price.
For tenants and landlords: what to check in the contract, rent and deposit, the property inventory and registering the lease with the tax authority.
How a reservation, a deposit and the promissory contract (CPCV) differ, what the contract should include and how to protect each payment before transferring money.
How to confirm who is being paid, check the IBAN through an independent channel and spot warning signs of fraud in reservations, deposits, rents and the final payment.
Caderneta Predial, Certidão Permanente, use permit, technical data sheet and energy certificate.
How a comparative valuation is done, and why an inflated price costs more in time and money.
A model letter for making a formal complaint, with the elements that make one effective.
Exclusivity, term, automatic renewal, remuneration and the listing acquisition clause.
What to expect from an accredited company or agent
Whether you are selling, buying or renting, accreditation translates into concrete commitments.
Listings with correct, up-to-date data: area, layout, energy certificate and legal status — no surprises at the viewing.
A clear explanation of how much you pay, to whom, and what is included — in writing, before you sign.
If you are selling, your property is shown by several cooperating professionals, not just one — more demand, less time on the market.
If you are buying, your agent can show you properties listed by other companies. One contact to see the entire market.
The same property stops appearing across sites with different areas, photos and prices.
The system’s transaction history supports realistic valuations — protecting you from selling below or paying above value.
Buyers get someone on their side in the negotiation, not only someone defending the seller’s interests.
Your personal data is processed under the GDPR and used only for the transaction at hand.
If something goes wrong, there is a code of ethics and a channel where you can complain.
Five questions to ask
How to recognise the APMLS Seal
An accredited company or agent displays the seal with a unique code. Scan the QR or type the code in the check above — if it does not appear, it is not accredited.
An independent non-profit association. We set the rules of real-estate cooperation in Portugal and publicly verify who follows them.