Alojamento Local: the obligations to know before renting out

Alojamento Local is the legal framework for short-term tourist rentals in Portugal. It is not a simple administrative formality: it creates permanent obligations, visible to guests and verifiable by the authorities. Here is what an owner should have in place before hosting a first stay.

The registration number

Registration is made with the municipality where the property is located, through the electronic one-stop portal. The home receives a national registration number. That number must appear on listings, whatever the sales channel, and be displayed inside the property. A home marketed without a visible number risks having listings removed by platforms, plus penalties.

Information displayed on site

Guests must find the mandatory information in the property: identification as AL accommodation, contact details of the person responsible, safety instructions, the national emergency number and waste sorting information. This signage is often overlooked, although it is easy to set up and reassures guests too.

The electronic complaints book

Every AL property must have the electronic complaints book and inform guests about it. This is a formal obligation, independent of how good your service is.

Insurance

The activity requires liability insurance covering damage to people and property in the context of tourist rental. A standard home insurance policy does not necessarily cover paying guests: the contract has to be reviewed against the actual activity.

Property safety

The rules cover in particular:

• an accessible fire extinguisher and fire blanket
• a first aid kit
• the national emergency number 112 displayed
• safety instructions and an evacuation plan
• compliant gas and electrical installations

On properties with a pool, water safety and maintenance become the first point of attention, especially with children.

Guest reporting

Hosts must report information about foreign guests to the authorities within the required deadlines. This reporting is built into the check-in routine of a professional concierge; when self-managing, it demands strict organisation, including for last-minute arrivals.

Tax and tourist tax

Income is declared in Portugal under the regime applicable to your situation, and several Algarve municipalities apply a tourist tax collected from the guest and paid to the town hall. Amounts, periods and exemptions vary from one municipality to another: always check the rule in force where the property is located.

How we work

At Calyferias, these items are part of the onboarding file for every property: registration check, on-site information, safety, insurance, tourist tax collection and reporting. The owner does not have to track each deadline: they approve, and we keep everything up to date stay after stay.

This article presents a general framework and does not replace legal or accounting advice tailored to your situation.