Documents needed to sell a house in Portugal
To prepare a sale, gather the identification of everyone involved, the caderneta predial (the property's tax record), the land registry certificate, the available planning documents and the energy performance certificate, where applicable. Add the condominium, financing and inheritance documents if those situations apply. The exact list should be confirmed with whoever will formalise the transfer. [1–5]
Organising this information before receiving an offer shows whether the property, its owners and the advertised conditions are aligned. A missing document may have a simple solution; a discrepancy in floor areas, a mortgage or a succession issue may require more preparation.
Checklist by purpose
| Item | What it helps verify | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| Identification and tax numbers of the parties | Who takes part and in what capacity | Owners and representatives |
| Caderneta predial (tax record) | Tax identification and characteristics | Portal das Finanças (tax authority portal) |
| Land registry certificate | Registrations in force and pending applications | Registo Predial Online |
| Planning documents and plans | Documented use and configuration | Municipal file |
| Energy performance certificate | Energy performance, where required | SCE portal and qualified assessor |
| Condominium information | Charges on the unit and relevant decisions | Condominium manager |
| Bank information | Loan repayment and release of the security | Lender |
| Succession documents or power of attorney | Standing and representation | The professional preparing the deed |
Identification
Property position
Formalisation
What to check before advertising
Start with the correspondence between the documents and the house. Confirm the unit identification, the address, the spaces included and the use described. If the listing includes a garage, storage room or terrace, identify how each space is documented.
For example, a parking space may be identified as a separate unit. In that case, you need to define whether the offer and the price cover both properties. A photograph of the parking space, on its own, does not settle that question.
Prepare a folder recording each document, the date it was obtained and the person responsible for resolving each query. Avoid circulating personal documents through public channels; share only what each stage requires.
The use licence still matters
The simplification introduced by Decree-Law no. 10/2024 removed the requirement to show or prove the use authorisation and the home's technical data sheet at the conveyancing act. That does not prove the house's planning regularity. It is worth consulting the file and clarifying any works or changes of use before entering into commitments. [4]
Documents that depend on the situation
If there is a mortgage, ask the bank about the procedure for repaying the debt on the sale. If the house belongs to an estate, confirm who must take part. If someone will sign under a power of attorney, send it in advance to the entity formalising the transaction. If the property is let, hand the lease to the responsible professional so the effects on the sale can be analysed.
These cases should not be dealt with only on the eve of signing. Each one can change the timetable and the conditions to include in the CPCV (the promissory purchase and sale agreement).
How to prepare the CPCV and the transfer
Before the CPCV, organise the outstanding questions and give each one a deadline. State which of them are conditions of the deal. Before completion, confirm with the responsible entity the final list, the validity of the documents, the parties involved and the tax proofs required.
For a unit in a condominium, the manager's statement identifies charges and any arrears; the law allows the buyer to waive it, with consequences of its own that should be understood. [5]
Frequently asked questions
Can I start preparing the sale without having every document
Yes. Preparation exists precisely to identify what is missing. To advertise and contract, confirm the applicable requirements, including energy certification. Do not present as confirmed an element that is still unresolved.
Does a caderneta predial replace the other documents
No. Tax information, registrations and the municipal file answer different questions. Reading them together is what reveals discrepancies.
Who gathers the documentation
Define that responsibility at the start of the engagement. The owner provides the information they hold, and the team can help organise the process, coordinating with the entities and professionals required.
How much does it cost to prepare the file
It depends on the documents already available, the requests to be made and any technical work. Ask for an itemised estimate rather than assuming a single figure for every house.
Sources
Next step
Selling a property in Lisbon, Cascais, the Silver Coast or the Algarve? Talk to the Valle team to organise the preparation of the sale and identify the information still to be gathered.
Talk to the Valle teamKeep reading
Documents · Buying · Selling
Caderneta predial: how to obtain and read it
The document with the property's tax data. It shows the cadastral identification, the characteristics recorded by the tax authority and the VPT.
Documents · Buying · Selling
Land registry certificate: how to request it and what to check
Access to up-to-date registry information on a property, including registrations in force and pending applications.
Documents · Property · Buying
Use licence and the planning status of a house
The use documentation and the municipal file help establish the property's planning framework and the alterations carried out.