It’s a personal Brexit for this landlord!

Reply to the comment left by Mark Alexander at 18/08/2018 - 18:50
Hi Mark , we have owned the property for 14 years but only lived here for about 4 years then bought a place in London and spent the about 5 months in Portugal and the rest in UK for the next 10 years.
Attractions, well to start with the novelty of climate, culture, food, and location were a big draw. We purchased a motorhome so it was a great base to tour Iberia and later Morocco from. We did alot of touring in the winter which we found could be depressing if it was raining alot.
All the great Spanish cities plus Porto and Lisbon were easy trips.
We then developed the place and rented out the villa for about 8 years which supplemented our income and the stimulus of development work in a foreign country was good (not easy but in the end successful).
I landscaped the place and gardening out here is amazing so we grow our own veg and salad all organic. Now we keep the place as a chill out zone and the time out here is reducing because of the family pull back to UK.
Portugal is getting very busy now because other resort countries are having tough times but up to the last 3 years where we are on the west coast was like going back in time. Our neighbours still used mules to grow sweet potatoes, the beaches were wild and you never saw a sunbed. Its changing but not always for the better.
I learnt a fair bit of Portuguese but I still am not fluent. But I enjoy trying.
Boy has the time gone fast.

Reply to the comment left by Christopher Marsden at 18/08/2018 - 19:19
Interesting feedback, thank you.

The lure of Portugal for me is that I would not have to spend a minimum of 6 months a year there to enjoy similar tax breaks to those I enjoy in Malta. My wife and I do a LOT of travelling and spend 5 months a year in Russia, where we have two holiday homes.

We also spend time in the UK and want to explore the rest of the world a lot more too. For us, Portugal would simply be a tax efficient place in mainland Europe to establish tax residency.

Portugal also seems to be a lot cheaper than Malta and they also have several resort development type properties which could suit us well. For example, we have recently been looking at a property which sub-divides into two flats. We can live in one and rent the other when we are not there or don’t have guests.

The condominium fees on these resorts are high (around €600 a month) but if you want a choice of pools, tennis courts, concierge, well maintained gardens, security and restaurants on your doorstep that’s the price you have to pay. The holiday rental income from the second unit should pay for that and make a small profit though. We could also consider letting the second unit during peak season when we are ordinarily away. Not so sure about that yet though, because it would involve putting our personal effects into storage and having strangers using our beds and toilets etc. I know that’s never an issue when we visit hotels but I can’t quite get my head around somebody else I don’t know living in my home when I’m not there. I will try it though and see how I feel after that.

Reply to the comment left by Will stillman at 18/08/2018 - 19:23
Hi Liam

When living in a foreign country you must accept that you are a foreigner. It’s no different to the way the British see foreigners, some welcome them and are very nice, others resent them and are not nice. If you’ve ever been on holiday to a foreign Country then you will have experienced this, albeit in small doses. I don’t have a problem with it, but some people might. I can’t imagine Portugal being any different to any other Country in that regard.

As for feeling settled, I’m not really sure I know what that means, because I never really settle anywhere. I live in the moment and enjoy every second of it, but there’s always a plan to explore elsewhere. I’m never in a place long enough to develop habits that tie me to it and I always know where my friends and family are and see them regularly. They also enjoy meeting up in different places.

In June a group of us drove ark round Europe, visiting 13 Countries in 8 days. For some people that would be hellish and unthinkable, for me it was an amazing adventure.

We are all different, and that’s what makes life so interesting.

Reply to the comment left by Jay James at 18/08/2018 - 18:50
Hi Jay

That statement referred to how British people who still live in the UK after Brexit and any transitional period would be treated if they wanted to move to the EU. It was specifically in the context of this thread - of applying for residence in Portugal in order to secure NHR. Such newcomers will have to apply for a residence permit - unless the Portuguese government makes an exception for citizens of former members of the EU.

The statement was not intended to refer to British citizens who moved, or will move, to the EU before Brexit. Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed of course, but it is hard to imagine other countries deporting self-sufficient, tax-paying, residents just because the UK leaves the EU. But if one did so, then Portugal would be the destination of choice, because NHR is not restricted to citizens of EU member countries.

Reply to the comment left by Will stillman at 18/08/2018 - 19:23
Hi, when we first came to Portugal I remembered reading that the Spanish tolerate us but the Portuguese like us. I would say that is pretty accurate. I have no idea how long it will take you to settle in Portugal. That's far too complex a question for me.
I agree with Mark you are living in a foreign country. I think that if you can learn the language you will have a better chance of settling and living here. Our estate agent who we bought the house from said to me if you want money in Portugal bring it with you. We have met quite a few people who came out here to make a living and more have failed than succeeded. If you are fortunate enough not to need an income from here then that's a massive advantage.
Portugal up to the crash was such a cheap place to live and in some ways still is eg our rates are 200 euros a year, our car tax is 46 euros but food we recon has gone up 4 times as much for somethings.
For us we didn't settle so after 4 years we bought a home in the uk and Portugal is our summer residence.
When I look back touring regularly in the motorhome was a great way to see the country.
Good luck and good health

Reply to the comment left by Mark Alexander at 18/08/2018 - 19:32
Hi Mark we rented our villa for 8 years but we had a 1 bed annex which we kept as our own space. The hassle of moving stuff and loss of privacy was not for us.
Be careful where you buy. Stay away from Albufeira in my opinion. The golden triangle is expensive but probably would be easier to sell. if you go west Lagos seems a good prospect and is a nice town. Proximity to airport may be a requirement for you and the Eastern end of Algarve means Seville is an easy trip and it's a beautiful city.
I know a good lawyer in Lagos if you need one.

Reply to the comment left by Christopher Marsden at 19/08/2018 - 10:53
Thanks Chris, I will bear all of that in mind.