Madeira News Blog

TODAY’S PHOTO : Thanks to Vic … Daybreak over Caniço

From Tobi : "Der this is quite funny, if you click on newer post (bottom left) he has a couple more posts". Cheers Tobi, this blogger is nuttier than other bloggers  I know. GNOME ON MADEIRA

Quite a useful short guide to some of the museums and specialist centres on Madeira, for those with the time and interest. Unfortunately in most cases the locations are not mentioned. STATIC ATTRACTIONS

"Madeira has got to be the world’s wackiest wine. Most folks know madeira as "cooking wine" … bobbing in the Atlantic some 350 miles north of Africa". So I woke up in Spain this morning did I? Got to be the whacky newspaper article of the day DAILY HERALD

Madeira Photo Excursion – Nature Meetings in cooperation with Associação Promoção da Madeira, ACIF with their Chapters of Hoteliers, Photographer’s & Travel Agencies, are organizing on Saturday 21st of November 2009 a Full Day Madeira Photography Excursion.The Autonomous Region of Madeira is one of the best photogenic locations in Europe. For both amateur and professional photographers we offer to combine their visit to Madeira Islands with a Full Day excursion. A professional local photographer will provide photo coaching and guide you to locations helping you take full advantage of the opportunities presents during the excursion. The excursion will set you back €39.50, but includes transport from Funchal and a 3 course lunch. PHOTO EXCURSION

Sócrates Government to focus on development of Autonomous Regions. Directly related to the Azores, the program of Prime Minister José Socrates will also seek to limit the terms in office for regional presidents. Already delivered to Parliament, the program of the 13th constitutional Government states that "the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira represent devolution strategies of great importance to the country". The Government is committed to consolidating autonomy at institutional, economical, social and cultural level. In addition, José Socrates will enforce the law of incompatibility between public office and pluralism of representation at the Legislative Assembly, as stated in the Political-Administrative Statute of Madeira. The Government’s program also plans to introduce limits of office for Regional presidents, and financial effort aimed at convergence in order to contribute to national development and cohesion. I found this on the RTP Azores TV website, and having never seen anything on RTP news written in English, I thought I should mark the occasion. I would argue that the mandate limit is more related (or even targeted) at Madeira rather than the Azores, not that will ever be admitted of course. Unlike Jardim of Madeira, President César of the Azores is a socialist, the same as Sócrates, just so there is absolutely no doubt on the issue.

Many thanks to Elaine for yesterday’s top stories :

CMF give ultimatum to residents of the ‘Edificio Infante’. The Marina Shopping mall owes 1/4 of the building and some shops are thought to have strategically closed before upgrading work has to be paid for in the first quarter of 2010, rather than close due to bankruptcy. The two facades of the building (Avenida Arriaga and Avenida do Mar), terraces and garage fitments need redecorating. The idea is to start the work when the weather improves in the Spring. The condominium administration company are looking for tenders and the next meeting with the residents is at the end of the month. At previous meetings, the residents have rejected the costs despite ‘tireless’ work by some and when works are approved, fund-raising will begin. If the residents still cannot agree then Funchal Council will find a tender and it could be more costly to the residents, so the condominium administrator wants this to be a last resort. The longer the delay, the more expensive it will become, so it is an investment.

Ribeira Brava will have the Emigrant Museum. The proposal was in the electoral program of the Social Democrats and highlighted at the inauguration of the mayor who is starting his final term, and is a former immigrant. It is intended as a tribute to those who go abroad for a brighter future but always remember their ‘roots’ where they were born. Plans are for the museum to be installed in the old health centre, which was the first one in the area.

Signs that Madeira is in economic crisis. In the past nine months, there have been an overall 27% fewer automatic transactions through electronic terminals or ATM machines, a loss of 437 million Euros (1,637 to 1,200) or 1.6 million Euros per day. 30% less through automatic terminals, 23% less using cards, 25% less through ATMs and 42% less international transactions. This penalises local companies and taxes, for example IVA (VAT) and consumption taxes on fuel, alcohol, tobacco, etc.

Quinta do Lorde will raise 7 million in taxes. Machico Council have calculated they will receive 7 million Euros in direct taxes (IMI and IMT) accruing 625,000 Euros in licences/permits and 68,000 Euros in IMI each year. This was one of the arguments they used in a court case filed on July 17 opposing the construction of the resort. They also expect employment for 400 construction workers and 200 jobs created in the future. —- I thought it had been ruled legal and the arguments finally ended.

German resident in Água de Pena accusing neighbour of assault. A 66 year old German, resident since 1977, has filed a court case against a 35 year old Madeiran neighbour. Both residents were in dispute in 2006 over the construction of a house on the Vereda (lane) da Quinta da Lagartixa, which gave access to the German’s residence. There were a dozen subscribers to a petition against the construction but the Council authorized an alternative access to the vereda, which was constructed. The German citizen alleges he was insulted then pushed against a wall resulting in minor injuries and an upset wife. The court hearing has begun today in Santa Cruz.

Community policing in Nazaré works. Recovered a stolen ‘Toshiba’ portable computer worth 1,000 Euros which had been sold for 40 Euros. Case of theft and receiving stolen goods, to pay for drug addiction. The police were on patrol in São Martinho and spotted a man carrying a ‘Toshiba’ laptop identical to one which had been reported as stolen from a house in Nazaré. He could not explain the origin and was the suspected receiver of the laptop. The suspect of the crime is the brother of the victim, referred to as toxicodependent, who admitted selling it for 40 Euros. The laptop has been returned to the rightful owner and legal proceedings will follow.

Sweet potato weighing about eight kilos. From farmland in Água de Pena, Machico.

—– Quite a fertile region for unusual and large vegetables.

Government will spend 10% of the budget on pensions to former MPs. €1.6 million to 52 former MPs. The politicians on the Continent and the Azores lost this ‘privilege’ in 2005 following an amendment which Madeira did not follow. Holding office for not less than 12 years and under 55 years of age, the pension is 4% for each year in office, up to a maximum of 80% of salary.

50% fewer fatal accidents at work. In 2000, there were 10 and only 4 in 2008. A Regional Strategy 2008/11 has been implemented. The ultimate goal is to minimize occupational accidents and illnesses by changing attitudes, behaviours and through training and awareness. The highest number of fatal accidents are in construction, responsible for more than a third, but 7% less in 2006 than 2000.

Police catch a well-known thief after a pursuit. The 40 year old man from Caniçal is known for burglary of rural properties. A neighbour alerted the police that the man was inside a property in Poco do Gil. Realizing that the police had arrived, he fled to land near the football field. The police surrounded him from several sides as he ran through private land and had to be handcuffed for detention at Machico Police Station for identification.

Savoy Group can start building the new hotel. The present Savoy Hotel can be demolished ready for the construction of a new hotel on the Avenida do Infante. The permit should be issued shortly and work begun within six months. The details of the plan for the redevelopment of the Ribeira de São Joao still need approval.

‘Aida Vita’ passenger air-lifted off yesterday. A 77 year old German on the cruise ship was evacuated to Funchal Central Hospital after a suspected cerebrovascular accident (CVA). The ship was about 240 miles west of Madeira and although the area comes under the Ponta Delgada rescue services, a naval ‘Merlin’ helicopter was deployed due to the proximity of the navy in the area.

Madeiran drivers aggressive. A Driving School Instructor said the psychological testing for some applicants for driving licences, if the new law is applied in Madeira next year, should be extended to all drivers. He said most driving is of a good standard but too many drivers are aggressive and lack the maturity and civility needed. Testing would help reduce this number. He outlined in particular the problems with lane discipline on roundabouts. ——- Are there many unemployed psychologists here to carry out testing?

A quick look at today’s front page headlines :

Reoccurring burglaries shake Campanário – Elderly question the law. The Diário got together a group of victims and neighbours to discuss the problem. One lady aged 60 said "But what law is it that we have on Madeira", after being a victim 3 times so far this year. Residents say they are fed up of the burglaries and point the finger of blame on a 23 year old man, a drug addict called Hugo, but the justice system appears to do nothing.

Today’s main news headline : Police Expel Commissioner – Manuel Saldanha was influential in the PSP (Public Security Police) of Madeira. He was a promising official, but he ruined his own career. He was convicted for the practice of a crime of drug trafficking, conduct that led Internal Affairs to dismiss him.

Deadly skid in Rosário. A 34 year old man died from his injuries after his truck went off the road at a bend and hit a wall.

Madeira pays €200 thousand to exhibit art in Lisbon. The regional heritage (collection) is going to be promoted starting 21st November in the National Palace of Ajuda.

The main front page photo today shows a number of elderly football supporters arriving at Madeira Airport : Bilbao brings a thousand supporters and Nacional asks for a full house. "Them coming is helping us to win". The challenge is launched by Nacional coach Manuel Machado. Spanish flight operators fill four charter flights. The game is live on SportTV1 around 8 pm tonight. Last chance saloon methinks, so good luck lads!

In politics : New president changes the locks – The drastic measure of Rui Moisés motivates the opposition to ask if the local authority was burgled. The new president of Santana Câmara took the measure as one of his first acts after taking command. He says that is something "normal for one who is new in post" and "it is not a lack of confidence in anyone". Knowing the level of corruption that goes on in politics here, I think I would have done the same thing, and used the exact same excuses.

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(10th August). Today’s main news headline : ’10 Complaints Per Day – The availability of the Complaints Book, more to hand, encourages the consumer to defend their rights, making more cases for Economic Activities’. 10 to 12 complaints a day are being made in the ‘Livro do Reclamações’, the complaints book that businesses are obliged to keep. In 2008 there were 1,940 complaints made and sent to the Regional Inspectorate for Economic Activities (IRAE) for processing, and they do not receive them all. The increase has come since the book was made mandatory for all suppliers of goods and services that have contact with the general public. A spokesman for IRAE admits the number of complaints is rising, but says "The increase does not mean that we are at a higher level of consumer dissatisfaction." Valentine Caldeira explains that, over the years, people are more aware of the fact that they can "really complain for any reason". Many complaints have no redress as they are mere declarations of dissatisfaction, such as poor service. It is in delivery of service that most complaints are made, followed by clothes shops and car repair workshops. In restaurants and such, the biggest complaint is about service or the small sizes of meals. As well as the IRAE, complaint management is undertaken separately for communications (ANACOM), transport, and banking. I think there are also different routes for public services, such as health care and local authorities. They were talking recently about making the complaints process ‘on line’ as well as on the actual business premises. You can imagine the chaos that would cause, the ability to complain in the safety of your own home without having to confront an employee.

‘Edifício Várzea Park Without Control – Hundreds of residents are discontent because there are  condominium owners who don’t pay their fees, preventing the normal services in a residential building, and creating a ‘deplorable situation’ in ordinary everyday life’. It’s just too big to manage. The building in São Martinho has about 300 apartments and no (effective?) condominium management. It’s the crisis on one hand, but also the lack of social cooperation, that is causing problems and dividing the community. Hundreds are unhappy with the management of the building, and with those who do not comply with their obligations, particularly those who do not pay. Last December for example, (due to lack of maintenance?) dozens of metal plates blew off of the roof and were hurled to the ground during a windy storm. That situation remains unresolved, with the prospect of the same happening again next time there are strong winds. The communal garage door is stuck open, and has been since January, with several incidents of theft and vandalism as a result, including two stolen cars, and the garage is now providing a haven for junkies. The door of the garbage store disappeared over a year ago. Several access doors have been pulled off by residents and used to make barbecues. One of the residents said "There are people who have stopped paying, and now others are thinking about doing the same as a form of protest". What a nightmare … 300 units, must be totally unmanageable, especially with a ineffective management company (Servibrava). I don’t think I would want to buy in a condominium again, nothing but problems, but if I did it would have to be a very small one. Just look at the size of this one in the centre of the front page photo!

‘Élvio Camacho Of ‘Flor do Mar’ For ‘Morangos’ – The Madeiran actor does well out there but doesn’t quit the TEF, despite the crisis’. The Teatro Experimental do Funchal (TEF) is presenting a new play in Porto Santo this week, and despite the cuts in the budgets and funding in culture, the organisation plods on cheerfully albeit now with less staff. Élvio, who plays ‘Father Miguel’ from São Vicente in the Madeira based TV serial ‘Flor do Mar’, will stay with TEF, and he believes that having a TV personality in the plays does draw bigger audiences. He will now play a mathematics teacher in the next series of ‘Morangos Com Açucar’, a national prime time teenager’s series, and much better and more sophisticated than programmes like Eastenders.

The day’s sport story : ‘Porto Lift The First Trophy Of The Season – FC Porto beat Paços de Ferreira (2 – 0) and achieve one more SuperCup’. This is the game between last seasons league winners Porto, and the Portugal Cup winners, also Porto, who couldn’t make it twice, so they played their victims in the cup final again. Not very imaginative really.

‘Parish Of Nossa Senhora do Monte Is Already In Festa’. The festivities of ‘Our Lady of Monte’ are already underway, with various religious events already been and gone, and more to come until Thursday. The big night is on Friday, the eve of the official festival date, probably the biggest festival gathering on Madeira. The Pilgrimage of Our Lady of Monte dates from the early days of colonization of the island. Friday night will see the traditional ‘barracas’ selling espetada and various traditional beverages, as well as modern and traditional singing and dancing all night long. On Saturday the 15th, after mass, the faithful will accompany the procession through the parish "to pay their promises". Lets hope its runs better this year than last when there were 6 stabbings in race related assaults as part of a large street brawl.

‘Festivals Of Summer Shouldn’t End In Tragedy – Emergencies hasn’t registered any increase in the increase in the number of alcoholic intoxications’. An appeal from the director of emergency services in Funchal Central Hospital (no doubt timed for the night of 7 festivals), to drink in moderation at a time when a high of extreme alcoholic intoxications and comas traditionally hit the hospital.

‘Porto Santo Will Have Kennels In October – The new structure is almost ready and will be inaugurated a little before the elections (5th October)‘. The new structure is costing around €840,000, and will home stray and abandoned cats as well as dogs. The building will contain an administration area, a veterinary area, and the space for the animals. Dogs will have 37 cages, including 4 for isolation, and 3 for pregnant bitches. Cats will have 16 spaces including two for isolation and two for expectant mothers. The old facility of Porto Santo is no longer, and by all accounts had terrible conditions, with reports of starving animals eating each other. "A black page that seems to be now at an end" says the Diário. Porto Santo actually has very few abandoned dogs compared with parts of Madeira.

In Portugal, Gripe A took an unwanted leap, when 49 new cases were registered between Saturday and Sunday afternoon, taking the national infection statistic up to 554. Of the new cases only 3 were ‘imported’, the rest were transmitted within Portugal. I know I do rabbit on about it a bit, but why don’t they report the current cases, otherwise we have no idea how bad the situation is day by day. Wouldn’t it be great for Madeira and for tourism to report when there are no current cases, instead of just notching up everything going back months?

A Lay-Mans Guide To Buying Property On Madeira

There are numerous sources for finding property for sale, newspapers, websites, and estate agents being the most common. Those not advertised, but for sale, often display a sign "VENDE-SE".

Having found the house you want to buy, take the attitude that property prices are always negotiable, even if you don’t speak the same language as the seller. As the selling prices are usually over inflated, especially where a foreigner is involved, you ought to try and negotiate the price. You can also negotiate on other factors, such as furniture and fittings (commonly left by the sellers), repairs and improvements, but make sure everything is documented, including the exact specification of the properties boundaries, and the existence of all the necessary documents of legal ownership, registrations, and permits.

You may need a bilingual Lawyer, as all agreements are included in the initial contract (Promissory Contract) and must by law be translated if necessary to be readable by both parties, before signing. It is not a legal requirement to use a lawyer, as sometimes Madeirans do buy and sell properties without one. The lawyers are generally expensive, and base their fee on a percentage of the purchase price, plus other costs and expenses, regardless of the amount of work involved. Not all lawyers are honest, so ensure their charges are clearly documented and understood, and what you are getting in return. If you are asked to pay the full fees in advance, negotiate a ‘down payment’ and a final payment, or find another lawyer. The British Consulate can provide a list of English speaking lawyers.

Unless agreed otherwise, you should look to your lawyer as a minimum; to check that all the necessary documentation is correctly held by the seller, and that there are no ‘surprise’ liabilities transferred with the house to the buyer; creation / provision of all the necessary documents including certified copies for yourself; the complete management of funds between buyer and seller; the making of all necessary registrations to fulfil legal requirements and those of the local authorities; management of the transfer of the utilities from the seller to the buyer; ensuring the house seller has fulfilled all promises made to the seller as part of the initial promissory contract; and to liaise with Finanças regarding the payment of the necessary taxes and formalise the exemption process for council tax, if applicable.

If you are buying property on Madeira but don’t live on the island, it is almost essential that your lawyer has email, to allow the transaction to progress quickly and smoothly. The sale and transfer of properties can be done very quickly if all parties involved  show willing.

Unfortunately, Madeira still has a culture of ‘back handers’ (bribes) embedded in its property industry. If you are asked to pay for a bribe and you do, you may be breaking the law. If you don’t pay, then ‘wheels might not turn’ and your dream house or apartment may remain just that, a dream.

It is normal for the seller to request a deposit, and that will also legally secure the house or apartment. That is negotiable, but 20% seems to be around about the normal rate. The deposit is non refundable unless the seller pulls out, in which case you would be entitled to compensation based on double the amount of the deposit paid. You should speak to your lawyer to ensure you understand how this works.

You should be aware that there may be two values associated with the purchase of a property, the actual price paid, and the ‘declared price’. The latter price is a price that suits the seller, and reduces their tax liability, and also reduces the amount of purchase tax the buyer would pay, which is based on a percentage. However, when you come to sell your house or apartment, unless you can do the same thing with the new buyer, your capital gains tax liability will be based on the difference between the ‘declared price’ that you paid and the selling price. This practice has been deemed to be the normal way of conducting business on Madeira for many years, but doubts can be heard about the legality, and it is just a matter of time before someone quite rightly completely puts a stop to it.

The documents you will be dealing with in the course of a property purchase, are as follows.

1. Registration Certificate (Certidão de Registo) – The ownership history, property description, and details of any liabilities or encumbrances. A public record obtainable from the local registration office of where the property is situated.

2. Tax Registration Certificate (Caderneta Predial) – Used by the Finance office (Finançias) in its calculations for council taxes. This will probably not be immediately available if the house or apartment is newly built, but can be applied for.

3. Permit for Use (Licenca de Utilizaçcão) – A licence that tells you that the house or apartment has been approved for use or habitation. This may not exist for older properties.

4. The Promissory Contract – The agreement between seller and buyer, detailing both parties and the property involved, deposits and payments, agreements on furniture & fittings, repairs and improvements, and critical dates.

5. The Title Deeds (Escritura) – The final document which completes everything, and destroys the Promissory Contract. This needs to be witnessed and endorsed by a Public Notary.

There will be other documents involved, such proof of identity, a tax payment certificate, or perhaps a ‘Power of Attorney’. You should check this with your lawyer and ensure you have what is needed, and where necessary are given an original document or a certified copy.

A Lay-Mans Guide To Selling Property On Madeira

Once you have decided to sell your property, think carefully about how to market it. Estate Agents can prove expensive, with charges of up to 5% of the selling price, plus IVA (VAT), usually on a no sale no fee basis. There are plenty of estate agents, mostly in Funchal, to choose from, as well as a number of websites, that will carry advertising for a set fee.

If you choose to use an estate agent to sell your house or apartment, they should be able to provide a rough valuation, and although professional valuers do exist, the whole property market valuation system is pretty much one of try it and see. The Finance Offices (Finanças) do have some guide valuations, but they are based pretty much on the overall area of the property and land, and their guide price per square meter applicable at that time, as used to calculate council tax. Be warned, that if you sell beneath the valuation of Finanças, they might think there is something untoward going on to avoid capital gains tax, and you may be asked to provide an explanation, or even worse pay more tax.

Capital gains tax is payable on any profit made from the sale of a properties. The amount payable depends on a number of factors, in particular on the amount of time you have lived there.

Broadly speaking, the capital gains liability is based on the difference between the declared purchase price (the ‘declared price’ is lower than the actual price paid, to benefit the sellers tax liability), and the sale price. Certain expenses are deductible, which include certain documented investments made to improve the property, and certain taxes and selling expenses, but this is a complex area, and ultimately it will be Finanças who calculate the overall tax liability.

You can achieve total exemption from capital gains tax if you purchase another property in Portugal within 2 years or an equivalent or higher value. This rule may change in 2008, as the European authorities have criticised Portugal in applying this restriction in a free European market, and it seems likely that soon you will be able to take your money and buy property elsewhere, or not buy at all.

The actual selling procedures and legal requirements can be gleaned from the buying procedures, looking from a sellers point of view of course.

A Lay-Mans Guide To Property Renting On Madeira

There are numerous properties to rent on the island, and numerous sources to find properties to rent, including websites, newspapers, and letting agents.

Letting falls loosely into several categories:

The short terms vacation market, the most expensive way to rent, with seasonal variations in charges. The medium term, perhaps for visitors who stay over winter, and for residents in between longer term accommodation plans, and long term, where individuals and families agree to a fixed term (usually renewable) to set up home on a permanent or semi-permanent basis. This latter method will normally be the cheapest method of renting.

Portuguese property rental laws require that all properties in existence for the purpose of renting have a licence to do so, and the penalties for not having this permit can be quite severe. Even casual letting can have complicated yet ambiguous requirements, and professional advice may need to be sought.

Many local people use a ‘residential’ to live, often in low occupancy hotels or purpose built buildings, where they can get the benefit of lower rental for long stays, and still have and a low level of commitment. The benefits can be as much as two thirds off the single night rate.

When renting a property, the parties involved should have written agreement showing the term of the rental, the deposit, costs, and payments arrangements agreed, what that covers, and what the landlord is obliged to do and provide. For example, in the short term rentals the landlord will almost certainly pay all the utility bills, and again this is more likely in the medium term lets, whereas long terms lets will need to transfer that responsibility to the tenant (who will need to show the rental agreement to the utilities companies in order to get the contracts changed). Likewise it will need to be clear who is responsible for maintenance, which might well differ depending on the terms of the let involved.

Longer terms lets are more likely to be unfurnished or semi-furnished, but if not an inventory of existence and condition of furniture, fixtures and fittings, may form part of the contract.

Rental prices vary immensely depending on the type of rental, whether there are seasonal rates, and the terms of commitment from both parties, and then of course with the type of property and the location. For illustrative purposes only, a one bedroom flat in Funchal might cost around €400 a month to rent on a medium term basis, with all bills included. You would probably find an equivalent flat elsewhere in a more remote location for between 30 and even 50% less. Longer term lets also confer certain rights upon the tenants, depending how long they have been in situ.

Profits from rental income are taxable within Portugal, regardless of where the owner lives or where payment was made.

COUNCIL TAX (IMI)

This is payable annually and is billed to the owner of the property at the end of the previous year. Payable every April (or 50% in April & 50% in September if over €250). If you are a permanent and personal resident in a property, you may be exempt from IMI tax in the initial years. This is determined by Finances, and is based on the valuation of the property. Exemptions: up to €157,500 – 6 years ; up to €236,500 – 3 years ; over €236,500 – 0 (2008).

The IMI taxation rates vary, and are based on Finanças valuation of a property: 0.2-0.5% or 0.4-0.8% for urban properties (the higher rate is for properties awaiting revaluation) & 0.8% for rural properties. A higher rate exists for those owners living in recognised tax havens.

News – June 2008 – New property legislation that came into effect on 31st December 2003 is causing some unwanted tax bills to drop through owners letterboxes. If you brought a property or had it altered after this date then you may be affected (A ‘modelo 1′ form should have been submitted to report any necessary valuation / re-evaluation). Once the valuation / re-evaluation is complete, a backdated payment may be demanded, back to the date of purchase or alteration (2004 onwards). This will also pick up any underpayment in property purchase tax, where the purchase went through at a understated value at the request of the seller (a common but probably illegal way of tax avoidance in the old days). For the larger bills, Finanças will allow the payment to be made in instalments.

A ROUGH GUIDE TO PROPERTY BUYING COSTS IN 2007

Public Notary Fees (Escritura) including VAT (IVA), depend on the property purchase price:
Below €25,000                         €178
€25,000-€125,000                    €195
€125,000-€200,000                  €212
Above €200,000                       €268

Stamp Duty 0.8% of purchase price

IMT Property Purchase Tax ranges from 0% to 6%, depending on the property value see table here IMT TAX

Lawyers Fees 1% of purchase price upwards (it pays to shop around!)

Property Registration Fee (in the Conservatória do Registro Predial in the district the property is located). €125 fixed fee

Additional Costs : Lawyers Expenses, mortgage set-up costs (including a Registration fee of €135 and an additional 0.6% Notary fee), Admin fees & Copying Costs, ‘smoothing’ payments to officials.

Solicitors / Lawyers on Madeira & Making a Complaint

Most property transactions do not legally require the use of a lawyer to conduct a property transaction, but if you don’t know the ropes and speak the language, then you will definitely need to appoint a lawyer. If you can appoint a reputable English speaking lawyer, and ensure all the requirements are agreed and documented, you shouldn’t have any problems, ie. exact fees payable, any extra costs, dates, and exact instructions about what is to be achieved.

However, things do go wrong, lawyers can be arrogant and heavy handed, and in some cases even corrupt. If you do have a complaint then there is an overseeing body that deals with these matters:

Ordem dos Advogados
Concelho Distrital da Madeira
R. Marquês do Funchal – Palácio da
Justiça, 2.º Dt.º
9000-083
FUNCHAL
Madeira

Tel: 00351 291 227281
Fax: 00351 291236174

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NO RESPONSIBILITY CAN BE ACCEPTED FOR THE ACCURACY OF INFORMATION SHOWN HERE, AND YOU SHOULD SEEK INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION OR PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE. THIS PAGE WAS LAST UPDATED IN 2008.

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