Anyone renting out property in Portugal knows that finding a good tenant is only half the battle. The other half? Making sure the relationship goes smoothly, the rent is paid on time, and, above all, that your property is well looked after.
Most of the time, friction between landlords and tenants doesn't happen out of malice—it's down to a simple lack of clear communication. That’s where an incredibly powerful, yet often overlooked tool comes in: a tenant welcome guide.
If you aren't handing one of these over on moving-in day alongside the keys, you are missing a massive opportunity to prevent future headaches. Here is why it's a total game-changer, and a quick summary of what you should always include.
Welcome guide for tenants (Docx)
Why should you actually create a welcome guide?
1. It fights the number one enemy of Portuguese homes: mould
If there is one thing that ruins apartments during a Portuguese winter, it’s dampness. The truth is, many tenants (especially expats or foreign students who aren't used to our coastal climate) have no idea how to manage indoor condensation. Explaining simple routines on paper—like not drying wet laundry directly on radiators or keeping furniture 15 cm away from cold external walls—will save you thousands of pounds in cleanup and repainting costs down the line.
2. It keeps the peace with the building's management
There is nothing worse for a landlord than getting a furious phone call from the building's condomínio (administration) because a new tenant is making too much noise late at night or leaving rubbish bags in the communal corridors. A solid guide lays down the house rules clearly from day one.
3. It prevents absurd "estimated" utility bills
In Portugal, if you don't submit water and electricity readings every month, the utility companies charge astronomical amounts based on wild estimates. By guiding your tenant to the meters and teaching them how to submit readings via the provider's app, you ensure their bills are accurate and avoid nasty surprises if the accounts are still in your name.
The Essential Checklist: What should be in the guide?
A tenant welcome guide doesn't need to be a thirty-page legal handbook. It should be short, practical, and written in plain language that a real human actually wants to read. These are the 5 absolute must-haves:
- Direct Contacts & Building Admin: Who does the tenant call if a tap is leaking? What if the light bulb in the building's hallway blows out? Clearly split the responsibilities (Landlord vs. Building Management).
- Bin Rules & Recycling (Ecopontos): Explain the color-coded street bins and give them the ultimate pro-tip: how to contact the local Câmara Municipal (City Council) to collect old furniture (known locally as "Monstros" or monsters) for free, so it doesn't end up dumped on the pavement.
- The Portuguese "Noise Law": Remind them that quiet hours are legally protected between 11 pm and 7 am, and that drilling walls to hang pictures is strictly a weekday-only activity.
- Mould Prevention 101: Practical advice on airing out the flat by creating brief daily cross-drafts and using a dehumidifier to dry clothes indoors during the rainy season.
- Meter Locations & Reading Dates: Where to find the water, electricity, and gas meters, and the best calendar date to submit the monthly readings.
Want to save time? Download our free template!
We know that building a document like this from scratch takes time. That’s why here at Casamatch.pt, we want to make your life easier. We have designed a fully editable tenant welcome guide template in Word (available in both English and Portuguese, which is perfect if you often rent to expats or international Erasmus students).
The template already has the entire structure tailored to Portugal's unique housing quirks and local regulations. All you need to do is spend five minutes filling in the blanks with your property's specific details.
Welcome Guide for Tenants (Docx)
Look after your tenants from the very first minute. A well-organised welcome is the first step toward a peaceful, stress-free tenancy!