Source: Freepik Author: Redaction Standing out in the property market isnt always easy due to the competitiveness and range of solutions available today, which equips estate agents and consultants with tools to raise their profile and promote them to a wider audience. However, your business can also be part of these success stories, and in just 20 minutes. If you havent heard of the eGO Real Estate CRM , its because youre certainly not doing a good job of looking for top-of-the-range solutions to help you manage your business, because this is the market-leading CRM that offers a range of 360º solutions, including not only digital marketing platforms, but also invoicing and opportunity handling. But the great advantage of eGO, the CRM chosen by the bulk of the market players, is the websites, which you can personalise, equip with the right tools for your needs, and keep integrated with your CRM, thus efficiently managing all your marketing and management platforms . But how can you change your website in 20 minutes? In just 20 minutes you can receive a consultation from one of eGO Real Estates specialised website team , who will analyse your site in terms of SEO, performance, usage criteria and many other factors. This way, under the clinical eye of the eGO team , youll get information on whether or not your site is standing out from the competition, as well as suggestions for improvements which, with more follow-up sessions, can be made in real time . Have you thought about the advantages that these 20 minutes can bring you?
Source: Freepik Author: Redaction Having a premium website is an investment that only the best property consultants can afford, because they know that this is the main channel for attracting potential clients, who will visit the site and see the agency as a potential investment in services . A good website is what makes the difference between a memorable real estate agency, with good digital performance, and others with less visibility and less investment in this channel, which consequently generate worse results. So dont be left behind and invest in your website by upgrading to a premium eGO Real Estate website , which helps you personalise and humanise the experience for your target audience. What are the main differences between a normal site and a premium site? To begin with, premium eGO Real Estate sites have a fresh, modern layout that elevates the user experience , as they convey professionalism. For the same reason, they also make it easier to navigate the site, helping to boost targeted and qualified traffic . These are differentiated and exclusive websites with innovative designs, chosen by the agency or consultant, which provide a personalised experience for those who visit them, with the possibility of including and integrating tailor-made features . In this way, you can choose the features that you value most and those that are most geared towards the activity of your target audience, and integrate them in such a way as to generate interest and, consequently, more leads. Still not convinced? Here are the main advantages - Easy navigation: allow users to easily find what theyre looking for through intuitive menus and advanced search filters; - Detailed and attractive property pages: present your properties with professional photographs, complete descriptions and immersive virtual tours, and attract the attention of your potential buyer; - CRM-integrated operating system: manage your leads efficiently, while tracking the progress of each negotiation and maximising your chances of closing deals. And if youre looking for other articles with tips for the property market, we suggest: After-sales follow-up in real estate: the key points , How to move into the new digital age? 4 tips and Get to grips with Smart SEO
Source: Freepik Author: Redaction The right of usufruct is quite common in Portugal and is used above all in situations of death , for example through a living gift. Under this condition, the person who donates the house, for example to their children, reserves the right to continue living in it for as long as they live . It is therefore a right that speeds up inheritance and partition situations , as well as managing conflicts between family members. Even so, its important to learn more about this right , which has legislative nuances that its important to be aware of. How does the right to usufruct work? As we explained above, in a situation where a father, for example, owns a property, he can give it to his children and continue to live in the property until his death, benefiting from the right to usufruct. In other words, as the law stipulates, he is in temporary and full enjoyment of a thing or right belonging to another, without altering its form or substance. In this way, the father who gave the house to the children, although he remains the usufructuary, no longer truly owns it, but continues to enjoy it until further notice. This is a right that does not apply exclusively to property, but also to other assets and/or rights , such as money in bank accounts, securities, vehicles, among others. Therefore, under the law, the usufructuary may temporarily and fully enjoy an asset or right, without altering its substance or form, which means that they have the right to use and benefit from the asset, as if they were its owner, but without being able to alienate or destroy it. It is also important to emphasise that this is a right that can be applied to more than one person, successively or simultaneously, i.e. it is possible to assign the right of usufruct to two family members, as long as both exist at the time of the first persons usufruct of the property. Important points - In situations where the right to usufruct is granted to more than one person, it only ends when the last one dies; - It is a right that can be granted for life, however, it is not transferable to heirs, - If the beneficiary of the usufruct is a legal person, the right is only valid for a period of 30 years; - The right ceases on the death of the beneficiary or on expiry of the established period, but also if the beneficiary renounces their right or fails to exercise it for a period of 20 years. How to grant or benefit from the usufruct of a property? You have to understand that the right to usufruct is different from usucaption, where in the latter situation a person assumes ownership of the property on the grounds that they have held it for a long period of time, whereas in the right to usufruct, this is a right stipulated by contract, provision of law or will, although usucaption can be presented as a basis. However, in order to validate the right to usufruct, you need to use a lawyer, solicitor or notary to ensure that the document sealing the usufruct agreement is authenticated. Rights and duties The main duty to be ensured by the beneficiary of the usufruct right is the administration of the property, keeping and preserving it as if it were their own. In the case of a property, in addition to the obligation to keep it preserved and well cared for, they must also ensure the payment of IMI and other taxes, as well as repairs that are necessary for its conservation and maintenance. On the other hand, the owner is responsible for major repairs related to improvements. Im the usufructuary of a property: can I sell or rent it out? The answer is yes, but under various conditions. In the case of a sale, only the owner can do this, on the condition that the usufructuary remains in residence, so the buyer cannot occupy the property or evict the current resident. This is a very rare type of deal, due to the nuances and complications associated with it, as the buyer wont be able to live in the house or make an income from it, even though there is the possibility of sale in the law. On the other hand, as far as renting is concerned, the usufructuary himself can put the property on the rental market, but only if he is the beneficiary of the property, because in the usufruct right the owner eschews the use and management of the house and is obliged to accept the beneficiarys decisions. However, if the owner dies, the lease expires and so does the right to usufruct. SUPERCASA always recommends seeking advice from specialised professionals to help you understand and comply with the law. Read also: Donation in life or receiving an inheritance: tax implications , What is a house swap? Understand this concept or Selling your house: DPA or Deed? Learn the differences
Source: Freepik Author: Redaction The increase in house prices in Portugal has increased the demand for alternative solutions to the demand for decent housing , and there is an interest in converting shops into houses that has been, itself, gaining the adhesion of several aggregates. Changing the use of a particular property is possible, but it is subject to a set of legal and technical requirements that we explain to you. Why convert a store into an apartment? Nowadays it is easier to buy a property affect the trade than a house for housing, for the disparity of the values practiced and, therefore, the owner of a store that intends to convert it into a property with housing purpose can effectively do so, however, must follow a number of requirements as well as ensure compliance with the law. To create a residential space is not enough to have the building and the walls, being necessary structural interventions and to ensure compliance with the legal regime, which dictates, for example, aesthetic and architectural changes , as well as the consultation of the City Council of the locality where it operates, to verify the indispensable conditions of habitability. For an investor, family or owner, this conversion is advantageous from a monetary point of view, because in addition to being taking advantage of a building that already exists, entailing less intervention costs, will make an urban revitalization of the same building , thus contributing to the revitalization of areas that may be degraded, abandoned or affected by services in cities. What does the legislation say? To be able to move forward with the conversion of a space dedicated to trade or services in a residential property, you must, to begin, consult the decree-law 10/2024, of January 8, which has undergone a change. With the new legislation, it is no longer necessary to seek advice from the Assembly of Tenants for any intervention in horizontal property, provided that it is intended for the conversion of the property into housing, whether for rental, local accommodation or permanent own housing. Once you know the legislation, there are two things you have to do: 1. It shall always consult the City Council to ascertain whether there is housing viability , that is, whether the conditions in the property which are indispensable to its habitability, are met; 2. If aesthetic or architectural changes are made to the common parts of the property, the condominium must approve . With the entry into force of the Urban Simplex, in March this year, the conversion of real estate for non-housing purpose into real estate to live in was easier, having been defined the issue of the fall of the mandatory authorization of the condominium for the contract, but maintaining the application for authorization to the city councils. What do you need to do in practice? After ensuring the opinion of the two entities, in relation to the points mentioned above, can effectively begin the process of converting the store into property for housing purposes. And, to begin with, you should try to change the title of the property , if it is inserted in a building. The change in the title of the property must be formalized through a public deed or notarized document, and after this change, it is necessary an adjustment in the License of Use, with the City Council, which will determine the purpose of the property - housing or non-housing purposes. The transformatio n process of the store begins effectively when the modification project is presented, which must encompass technical and safety requirements. What do you have to do as an owner? A process of converting a store to an apartment can be complex, time consuming and somewhat bureaucratic, so we always recommend consulting a specialized professional to advise and accompany you at all stages of this process. Not only will it ensure compliance with the law and legal requirements, but it will speed up the process, having on its side all the information necessary for transformation. However, as an owner, you must update the description of the house in the official register, after receiving the authorization from the Chamber and/ or assembly of tenants , for the conversion of the property. You must also present to the tax authorities the document that proves that the changes are in accordance with the laws and regulations in force. The rules changed, according to Decree-Law 10/2024, in the Code of Urbanism and Spatial Planning, to facilitate these processes, which eliminated the requirement of the prior use license, which was previously necessary to change the use of the property, and streamline the process, as it provides for shorter deadlines. So, you know, check with the competent authorities, requesting the services of a solicitor or lawyer, and carefully analyze whether or not this is the most viable option for you. And if you’re looking for commercial spaces for sale, find them at SUPERCASA . Read also: Real Estate Experts: who are they and what do they do?
Source: Freepik Author: Redaction The payment in compliance is nothing more than a legal mechanism, provided for in the Portuguese Civil Code, in articles 837 to 841, which allows the debtor to deliver a good to the creditor as payment of the debt , even if this good is different from the originally agreed. In Portugal, the payment in compliance is particularly important for owners , especially in the context of housing credit. What is in compliance? Also called payment in payment, the payment in fulfillment is a form of payment of the debt, namely credits, and its procedure does not arise from a payment in cash, but in goods. That is, a person with a debt can propose to the creditor the settlement of that debt with a good, using it as a form of payment, instead of money , a situation where the payment in compliance that, to be considered valid, must be accompanied by an agreement between the parties, in this case, creditor and debtor. Without this pledge in fulfillment, the creditor could proceed with the pledge, in order to receive money from the seized assets, however, through a mutual agreement, the debt is extinguished, after the pledge in fulfillment (or payment). What about the mortgage? In the case of residential credit, more specifically, the payment in compliance allows the debtor, with the knowledge of the bank, to transfer ownership of the property to the bank in exchange for the cancellation of the debt, which entails some advantages. Avoids the execution of the property The first advantage is the fact that you do not have to see your property pawned, because the deed in compliance will prevent the forced sale of it, emerging as an alternative to judicial execution. Keeps you as the owner of the property Applicable only in some situations, you can reach agreement with the bank for the stipulation of a grace period before the definitive delivery of the property. Limits debts The payment in compliance extinguishes the debt in question, preventing the growth of interest and other charges. Friendly solution It is an amicable solution between debtor and creditor. Advantages for the debtor In addition to avoiding the execution of the property, keeping it in the possession of the debtor, will allow to limit the debts, since, when delivering the property to the bank, the debt of the debtor against the mortgage credit is extinguished, which prevents the growth of interest and other charges. But the main advantage is that it is a negotiated solution, which allows an amicable solution, without conflicts or the emotional strain of a judicial process. Advantages for the creditor For the creditor, the payment in compliance emerges as a positive alternative, because, in addition to receiving the payment of the debt, it will avoid the costs of execution, which in addition to being a lengthy process, is quite expensive. Therefore, you already know: the payment in compliance is an extremely advantageous legal instrument in cases of default, especially for mortgage lenders, but also for creditors, who can expedite this process more amicably. We suggest you also read: Can you calculate your effort rate? Find out everything
Source: Freepik Author: Redaction An enhanced user experience on your site will make all the difference when deciding whether or not to generate a contact request or choose your services. They are details such as the design of the site, the user experience, the interactivity or the elegance of the notes that create impact, interest and fascination. With a modern and attractive website , it will generate many more contact requests than with a dated, unintuitive and slow website, but still you need to innovate for the difference, because not all agencies work with the same audience and you have to customize and adapt your site to the type of property you sell. With regard to developments , they are a very specific area of activity in the real estate market, usually associated with a type of investor, with different characteristics and needs, who need their own disclosure space. So, innovate for the positive and know 3 exclusive advantages of selling your ventures through your website. Detailed information of the fractions of the enterprise A good announcement will have a table of fractions of enterprises , and a good site will have this functionality in an elegant, complete and intuitive way, presenting tables with price, areas, typologies, among other information. With this type of table integrated into your site, you will quickly inform your potential client about the fractions associated with each of the real estate projects, generating a more qualified lead. Present the project without leaving the site Using a slideshow of images, which shows all the divisions of the property, does not force the user to enter the detail of the same, and can also use a Landing page advertising specifically for the enterprise that is selling. Through this exclusive page, which may have a different design, increases the conversion rate , as you are promoting a premium experience for the visitor, who may eventually be a potential buyer. In addition , without leaving the page, and by allowing the potential customer to see all the ventures at once, through a panel of ventures, you will be improving the user experience, increasing your time on the site. Streamlines interaction with your customer Directly on the website you can have a chat with an open channel for your potential customer to contact you or ask you questions about what you are seeing, increasing the interaction that is established and the connection between you and the potential buyer. This quick interaction will make your client feel confident in your work, but above all, will demonstrate, on your side, a good follow-up which, consequently, will create greater affinity, taste for your services and interest in the property. All these features can be obtained through the eGO Real Estate , which allows you to combine tools and actions, directly on the site, to improve performance, SEO and user interest.
Source: Freepik Author: Redaction The World Bank Group’s Global Economic Outlook report predicts that this year global growth will remain stable for the first time in three years , reaching an average of 2.7% by 2026. Still, well below the average of 3.1% recorded in the ten years prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the World Bank, the expectation for 2024 is that, for the first time in three years, the global economy will stabilize, although at a level considered below based on recent historical patterns. Already in January the World Bank had indicated a global economic growth of 2.4% for this year, having revised downwards, 3 tenths, the projection for 2025, to 2.7%, as a result of political instability. Over the period 2024-2026, countries that collectively represent more than 80% of the global population and GDP [Gross Domestic Product] would grow at a slower pace than in the decade before covid-19, the bank said, according to its projections, which also point to a decline of 3.5% of inflation on a global scale, still this year, and 2.9% in 2025, on a path of fall lower than expected just six months ago . This means that, for many central banks, there must be greater caution in reducing official interest rates , since global interest rates are likely to remain high compared to the patterns of recent decades - averaging around 4% between 2025 and 2026, roughly double the 2000-2019 average. On the other hand, there is expected to be 4% growth in developing economies between this coming year, a little slower than in 2023 . The World Bank notes, however, that growth forecasts for 2024 reflect the regressions observed in three out of four low-income economies since January . In advanced economies there is likely to be stability , remaining at 1.5% this year, although growth of 1.7% is expected in 2025. In advanced economies there is likely to be stability, remaining at 1.5% this year, although growth of 1.7% is expected in 2025. Follow other topics of Economics in SUPERCASA Notícias
Source: Freepik Author: Redaction As we explained in previous articles, SEO plays a key role in the reach that your company has in digital , because only through these mechanisms will you be able to reach your target audience more effectively and, consequently, get the results you want. By using SEO techniques, you’ll create better interactions with customers and potential customers , since most people use Google to search, so your main goal has to be just one: that your site appears in the first positions of the search. To get this positioning, it is essential to make yourself endowed with a well-built site at the level of SEO, with unique features that attract new visitors , as a quality SEO will promote not only the capture of more leads to the site , like more qualified traffic and better organic performance , and the longer people stay on your site, the better results you get. For this to work, you must join the best platforms providers of sites, namely the eGO Real Estate that, in a matter of minutes, will look at your site and, through a specialized consultancy, will tell you exactly what to change. Make a strategic decision: change your website to improve SEO By having a better SEO, you will also have other associated advantages , namely a stronger and recognized brand , because your image will be strengthened, and will transmit greater credibility and trust to your customers and potential customers. Investing in a premium eGO Real Estate site is the strategic decision that will drive your business to success, dictating the difference between your agency and another with less investment in this digital part. Benefits you can count on The eGO Real Estate team will take care of everything for you, ensuring that all Keywords and meta tags are populated to benefit your site’s SEO, but also through an analysis that will improve the features you have associated with . If you want, in addition to improving your online presence, boost the visibility of your real estate ads, you will find in the eGO Real Estate the right solutions to catalyze this disclosure. With a property disclosure kit integrated on your website you can obtain: • Custom icons; • Slideshows of images; • Autoplay of photographs, • Interactive property features, details and description; • Banners targeted to your area of expertise. Make the most of the solutions at your disposal and increase the visibility of your company! Sell more properties with a successful website.
Source: SUPERCASA Author: Redaction Among the golden plains of Alentejo stands Évora , a timeless city that pulses with the memory of centuries. Founded by Romans, the Museum City boasts a rich and diverse legacy, visible in its monuments and cobblestone streets that invite to a quiet walk in time. To begin with, the city invites you to visit the Cathedral, where from the top of this imposing historic landmark you can admire the Gothic facade and the Renaissance cloisters of typical architecture of the time, and then venture on a visit to the Roman Temple , which is considered a landmark of Roman engineering. In these places, you will be able to travel back in time and glimpse, through your imagination, the ancient rituals and celebrations. Évora is more than a destination; it is an experience. And an experience can only be truly enjoyed if you stop to get lost. Experience the narrow streets, feel the vibe of local life and create memories in this beautiful city. Tips from the traveler: • The best time of the year to visit Évora is between April and June, and you can enjoy this month for a walk before coming the torrid callus; • Accesses can be made by car, bus or train; • There are several accommodation options, but we suggest hostels and hotels; • The best way to explore the city is on foot. And if Évora is a city that enchants you not only for sightseeing, but especially for living, find in SUPERCASA the best real estate options for sale and do not miss a good investment. 2 bedroom apartment in Bacelo e Senhora da Saúde, Évora - 175.000€ House 3 Bedrooms Duplex in Malagueira e Horta das Figueiras, Évora - 275.000€ House 4 Bedrooms in Redondo, Évora - 359.000€ Quinta T5 in Montemor-o-Novo, Évora - 750.000€ Also know: Leiria: itinerary through the most iconic district capital of the West
Source: Freepik Author: Redaction The extension of the access of Porta 65 Jovem, which includes the excuse of the prior presentation of a lease by the candidates, was approved this Friday, June 14, by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. According to the official note of the Presidency of the Republic, the President promulgated the Government’s decree amending Decree-Law 308/2007 of September 3, extending access to the Young Door 65 Program. This was a measure discussed in the Council of Ministers last May, in addition to several other proposals aimed at young people. Through the update contemplated in the decree, candidates are thus able to submit an application without having to submit a lease agreement in advance, in addition to being able to submit it with three payslips unlike the usual six. The Minister of Youth and Modernization, Margarida Balseiro Lopes, had already, at the time of the discussion of the proposal, indicated the importance of the update: this system does not make sense. Young people, first, go to the Housing Portal, will apply and will not attach any contract, nor promise of contract. And the State will tell this young man what is the value of the support he will receive and then [...] the young man goes looking for a house according to the value he will receive, and the young people will have two months to find a home, according to the new rules. Related topics that may interest you: What types of lease agreements exist? Know , Public guarantee in the purchase of house only goes up to 15% of the loan or Government will approve reduction of the tax burden in the IRS
Source: Freepik Author: Redaction The European Commission’s spring forecasts , recently released , revised the outlook for 2024 and 2025 regarding the evolution of Investment in Construction in our country. Indeed, and according to the analysis sent by AICCOPN to the newsroom of SUPERCASA Notícias , the growth estimate of this indicator for this year, went from 2.9% to 2.5%, and for 2025, went from 3.3% to 2.8%. In this context, it should be noted that the Quarterly National Accounts released by INE for the first quarter of 2024, revealed a weak start of this indicator, showing variations of 0.9% year-on-year and -0.3% compared to the previous quarter. Regarding the area licensed by the Municipalities , in the first three months of 2024, there was a significant reduction of 17.6% in housing buildings and 31.7% in non-residential buildings. With regard to the number of fires licensed in new buildings in this period, there was a contraction of 20.3% year-on-year for a total of only 7,222 dwellings when, one year ago, this number amounted to 9,060. Regarding the evaluation of housing for bank credit purposes , in March 2024, there was an increase of 6.5% year-on-year to € 1580/m 2 . As for the construction costs of new housing, there was an increase in the index of 2.3% year-on-year, as a result of variations of -1.1% in the component of materials and +6.9% in the component related to labor. With regard to the public works market, in the first four months of 2024, there was an increase of 18.7% in the value of works contracts concluded and registered in the Base Portal, in terms of a comparable year-on-year change , totalling EUR 1.050 million. Keep abreast: New housing costs increase year-on-year and Government accelerates construction of 2,871 homes with PRR funds
Source: Freepik Author: Redaction Almost half of the Portuguese (44%) do not believe that the exemption of IMT and Stamp Duty is sufficient to facilitate the purchase of property , which consider the entry high and/ or very high, according to an Imovendo survey sent to SUPERCASA Notícias , conducted to more than 5000 respondents, between owners and potential buyers, held between May 31 and June 7. Still, the vast majority of Portuguese are satisfied with the new government measure , which provides for exempting young people up to 35 years of payment of IMT and Stamp Duty in the purchase of the first house, Although 54% of respondents agree to 100% financing, these are divided into the reasons that most impact the purchase of the first house: 30.4% say it is the price of real estate; to the same extent they point to low wages; 8.9% account for the lack of savings of young people; 7.1% blame precarious jobs and, in the same proportion, the lack of real estate supply. Those who responded to this research think that the difficulty in buying the first home contributes to the emigration of qualified young people , that banks will be willing to grant housing credit in this way and that this measure can have a positive impact on the economy. A representative 39.6% point to the variation in the price of real estate as a concern regarding this measure, ¼ mentions the sustainability of the program, ¼ the ability to pay credit and 10.4% the eligibility criteria. Half also indicate that this measure should be extended to all ages and do not feel that there will be a particular impact on the number of houses for sale, although 58% believe that they will be more expensive. This study only reinforced, even more, Imovendo’s position that real estate speculation must have an end, through the regulation of fixed and fair rates for all. Although the government has created these new measures, those questioned believe that they will continue to be scarce and insufficient, given the impractical prices that we can find in the national market in recent times , concludes Miguel Mascarenhas, CEO of Imovendo , in the note to which SUPERCASA Notícias had access. According to the European Commission, the price of houses will continue to rise , which is a problem for half of the respondents, who continue to consider the price of real estate as the most relevant deciding factor. Why not keep reading? Public guarantee: BdP will help regulate measure , IMT exemption to young people: law establishes 3 conditions and Government accelerates the construction of 2,871 fires with funds from the PRR
Source: Aldeias Históricas de Portugal Author: Redaction Aldeias Históricas de Portugal - Associação de Desenvolvimento Turístico (AHP-ADT) has just become the first organisation to have buildings classified with the three AQUA+ benchmarks for assessing and classifying the water efficiency of buildings - AQUA+ Residential, AQUA+ Commerce & Services-Hotels and AQUA+ Commerce & Services-Offices - thus positioning itself at the forefront of water efficiency in Portugal, as stated in a press release to SUPERCASA Notícias . AQUA+ is a benchmark for classifying and promoting water efficiency in buildings, developed by ADENE - the Portuguese Energy Agency, in collaboration with organisations from the national scientific and technological system. Its purpose is to assess and classify, on a scale from F to A+, the performance of buildings in their various water uses and to identify opportunities for improving water efficiency and energy efficiency within the water-energy nexus. In partnership with ADENE, the Historical Villages of Portugal carried out an experiment on three different types of building, resulting in a careful analysis of the optimum points and those to be improved, noting their importance as a mechanism for saving money and an increasingly scarce resource - water . Once the added value has been recognised, the aim is to move on to replication. Within the scope of AQUA+ Residential, a single-family house in Almeida, Guarda district, was classified. The improvement measures identified in the audit, namely the installation of more efficient taps and shower systems, a hot water circulation and return network and an intelligent water consumption measurement system, will save 107m3 of water and 57 € annually, taking into account the cost of water and the costs associated with heating it. With regard to the AQUA+ Trade & Services - Hotels audit, the INATEL de Linhares da Beira Rural Hotel, a hotel with 26 accommodation units, located in the village of Linhares da Beira, in the municipality of Celorico da Beira, was classified. The building is a rural hotel with 26 accommodation units, built in 2013. It has two swimming pools for guests, a laundry room and around 3,700 square metres of green areas that need watering. As a good water efficiency practice, the use of water from the levada, which comes from the Serra da Estrela mountain range and supplies all the resorts irrigation needs, was identified. The proposed improvement measures, including the installation of an intelligent monitoring system with partial meters at key points in the water network and the creation and implementation of a water management plan, will enable the development to improve its water performance . The Almeida Town Hall building, built in the 18th century, was one of the pilot buildings for calibrating the AQUA+ Commerce & Services - Offices methodology. This building uses water for sanitary facilities and outdoor areas that require irrigation. The proposed improvement measures will enable the building to save 221m3 of water per year. Improvement measures include the replacement of devices (taps and cisterns) and the creation of awareness campaigns, such as putting up signs to reduce water consumption, training employees and drawing up a good practice manual on sustainability and water efficiency. This is undoubtedly a significant step towards carbon neutrality. In line with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and the European Green Deal, the Historical Villages of Portugal Network aims to become the first network in Europe to benefit from water and energy efficient status, based on the strategic vision: Historical Villages of Portugal: a sustainable urban network that is a pioneer in its contribution to the green growth of low-density territories. Continue reading topics like this in SUPERCASA Notícias
Source: Freepik Author: Redaction The Simplex Urbanístico, created to simplify and speed up bureaucratic processes in the housing and construction sector, which came into force on 4 March, is causing several requests to be submitted to the countrys two main cities, Porto and Lisbon, to change the use of spaces. Most of the requests for alterations are for spaces such as garages and shops, which can be changed to housing, as stipulated in the Simplex, which dictates that all types of fractions that are not used for housing can be converted for this purpose as long as a notice is sent to the local authorities , who have 20 days to respond or start the inspection process. The conversion of shops into houses, or other spaces for non-housing use, no longer requires the approval of the condominium, and it is up to the councils to subsequently verify the conditions of habitability . Since these rules came into force, the Lisbon and Porto councils indicate that most of the requests made are in this area, however, according to Lisbon City Council (CML), it has not yet been possible to ascertain the exact number of cases submitted , out of a total of 273 that have been submitted to the council since the legislation came into force. Since then, the CML has followed up on 406 cases, in which no case requiring an inspection has been detected since the change in legislation . Porto City Council has received 51 prior communications about changing the use of fractions, with around 40 corresponding to the purpose of housing. However, the council is unable to respond to the requests, despite carrying out inspections to check that the fraction is suitable for the intended purpose , guaranteeing that it is meeting the response deadlines despite the high volume of submissions . We recommend reading: New urban simplex is causing confusion in local authorities , Property speculation: get to know this concept or Is your family getting bigger? Find the perfect home