# How Does Housing Work in Portugal? (2026) > Find a flat, room or mid-term rental in Portugal: the best housing portals, typical costs, documents landlords ask for, deposits and how to avoid scams. By Jules de Bruin · URL: https://www.how-to-portugal.com/moving/housing **Idealista** and **Imovirtual** are the biggest long-term rental portals in Portugal. If you need a furnished place before arrival, **Uniplaces**, **Spotahome** and **Flatio** let you book mid-term stays without a guarantor. Expect landlords to ask for a NIF, passport, income proof and a deposit of up to two months. ## Which Housing Portals Are Best? | Portal | Type | Best for | | --- | --- | --- | | [Idealista](https://www.idealista.pt/) | General rental and sales portal | Long-term rentals across Portugal | | [Imovirtual](https://www.imovirtual.com/) | General rental and sales portal | Long-term rentals and market data | | [Casa Sapo](https://casa.sapo.pt/) | General rental and sales portal | Local sales and rentals | | [Uniplaces Portugal, student and mid-term rentals](https://www.uniplaces.com/) | Student / mid-term furnished rentals | Student and mid-term furnished rentals | | [Flatio Portugal, deposit-free mid-term rentals](https://www.flatio.com/) | Mid-term rentals, no deposit | Deposit-free mid-term stays | | [Spotahome Portugal, mid-term furnished rentals](https://www.spotahome.com/) | Mid-term furnished rentals | Mid-term furnished apartments | | [OLX](https://www.olx.pt/) | Classifieds | Budget rooms and private listings | ## What Are the Best Housing Portals? These portals cover long-term rentals, student housing and mid-term furnished stays. ### Idealista Portugal, property portal 4.5Best overall. The largest inventory and most landlord contact options for long-term rentals. Best forLong-term rentals across Portugal[Visit site](https://www.idealista.pt/)General rental and sales portal. Use it for long-term rentals across portugal. Pros - Largest listing volume in Portugal - Price-history and map tools included - English interface available Cons - Landlords often demand guarantor or months upfront - Fake-listing scams occur; never pay before viewing ### Imovirtual Portugal, property portal 4.2Best runner-up. Strong second choice with useful filters and neighbourhood data. Best forLong-term rentals and market data[Visit site](https://www.imovirtual.com/)General rental and sales portal. Use it for long-term rentals and market data. Pros - Stronger coverage in the north and interior - Free alerts on new listings - Cross-posted with OLX audience Cons - Listing quality moderation weaker than Idealista - Duplicate ads across OLX ecosystem ### Casa Sapo Portugal, property portal 3.9Useful for specific budgets or locations. Best forLocal sales and rentals[Visit site](https://casa.sapo.pt/)General rental and sales portal. Use it for local sales and rentals. Pros - Long-established national portal - Barómetro market statistics free to read - Strong high-end and investment stock Cons - Smaller audience than Idealista - Interface feels dated ### Uniplaces Portugal, student and mid-term rentals 3.8Best for students. Student-focused, lets you book before arrival with verified listings. Best forStudent and mid-term furnished rentals[Visit site](https://www.uniplaces.com/)Student / mid-term furnished rentals. Use it for student and mid-term furnished rentals. Pros - Bookable from abroad before arrival - Furnished rooms with contracts accepted for visas - English support and online payment Cons - Service fee added to first payment - Prices above local market rates ### Flatio Portugal, deposit-free mid-term rentals 3.8No deposit. Mid-term rentals without a deposit, aimed at remote workers. Best forDeposit-free mid-term stays[Visit site](https://www.flatio.com/)Mid-term rentals, no deposit. Use it for deposit-free mid-term stays. Pros - No deposit required on most listings - Stays from 14 days to 12 months - Utilities often bundled in price Cons - Monthly rents above long-lease equivalents - Smaller Lisbon/Porto-only inventory ### Spotahome Portugal, mid-term furnished rentals 3.7Virtual tours and mid-term contracts for expats who want a furnished flat. Best forMid-term furnished apartments[Visit site](https://www.spotahome.com/)Mid-term furnished rentals. Use it for mid-term furnished apartments. Pros - Video-checked listings bookable fully online - One-to-twelve-month furnished stays - English-first platform and support Cons - Booking and service fees inflate total cost - No in-person viewing before payment ### OLX Portugal, classifieds housing 3.6Useful for specific budgets or locations. Best forBudget rooms and private listings[Visit site](https://www.olx.pt/)Classifieds. Use it for budget rooms and private listings. Pros - Direct-owner listings avoid agency fees - Cheapest rooms and furniture bundles - Fast informal agreements possible Cons - Highest scam exposure of the major portals - No deposit protection whatsoever ## How Do You Find a Rental in Portugal? - Set your budget and preferred neighbourhoods. - Search Idealista and Imovirtual daily; good listings move quickly. - Contact landlords in Portuguese or English; mention your NIF and income source. - Arrange viewings and confirm whether the price includes condo fees and utilities. - Sign a written contract and get a receipt for any deposit. Illustration of a house with a key, a map pin, and a cathedral spire, for housing, costs, and settling into life in Austria.Housing, costs, and daily life: settling into Austria. ## What Documents Do Landlords Ask For? - Passport or ID - NIF - Last three payslips or proof of income - Last IRS declaration or tax return - Guarantor (fiador) or several months' rent upfront ## What Are Typical Rental Costs and Fees? - **Deposit:** up to two months' rent for long-term contracts. - **Agency fee:** commonly one month's rent plus VAT. - **Condominium fees:** often paid separately; confirm before signing. - **Utilities:** usually tenant responsibility. ## How Do You Avoid Rental Scams? - Never pay a deposit before viewing or verifying the property. - Use a written contract in Portuguese with an English summary if needed. - Pay deposits by bank transfer, never to anonymous accounts. - Check that the landlord's NIF matches the property tax records if possible. ## Related Guides [### Renting as a Foreigner Documents, deposits and tenant rights.](/moving/renting-as-a-foreigner)[### Cost of Living Rent and expenses by city.](/moving/cost-of-living-by-city)[### Address Registration Register your new rental address.](/moving/address-registration) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is the best housing portal in Portugal? Idealista is the largest and most widely used portal, followed by Imovirtual and Casa Sapo. For furnished mid-term stays, Uniplaces, Spotahome and Flatio are popular with newcomers. ### Can you rent in Portugal without a Portuguese income? Yes, but landlords often ask for a guarantor, several months' rent upfront, or proof of foreign income. Mid-term platforms are more flexible. ### How much is the rental deposit? Portuguese law caps the deposit at two months' rent for long-term contracts unless the law is waived by agreement. ### Is there a maximum agency commission? Agency commission is not strictly capped for residential rentals in the same way as in some countries. One month's rent plus VAT is common. ### How do you avoid rental scams? Never pay before viewing or verifying the landlord's identity, use a written contract, and avoid cash deposits to anonymous accounts. --- Source: https://www.how-to-portugal.com/moving/housing Last updated: n/a Format: LLM-readable Markdown twin (.md) of the canonical HTML page.