Template: Lease Termination Letter for Portugal (Opposition to Renewal)

When a landlord in Portugal does not want to renew a lease, they are required to notify the tenant in writing, with a minimum notice period defined by law. This communication is made by registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt (in Portuguese, "carta registada com aviso de receção", or AR) and is called opposition to renewal ("oposição à renovação"), under article 1097 of the Portuguese Civil Code.

Note: this letter does not end the lease immediately. It only communicates that the lease will not be renewed on its next renewal date. The tenant keeps the right to stay until the end of the current term.

Prefer the letter filled in and sent through CTT, the Portuguese postal service? Send your letter for 14.99€ →

What is the minimum notice period?

The notice period counts from the date the tenant receives the letter, not the date you post it. Allow 2 to 4 days for CTT delivery and send with extra margin.

Template: Letter of Opposition to Renewal

One thing surprises many foreign landlords: the letter must be sent in Portuguese. It is a legal notification addressed to a tenant in Portugal, and it needs to be effective and unambiguous under Portuguese law. Use the template below exactly as it is, filling in the highlighted fields. Right after the template you will find a paragraph-by-paragraph explanation in English of what the letter says.

What this letter says, paragraph by paragraph

1. "[Cidade], [Data]": the city where you are writing the letter and today's date. Standard opening of a formal Portuguese letter.
2. "Assunto: Oposição à renovação do contrato de arrendamento": the subject line. It states that the letter is an opposition to the renewal of the lease agreement.
3. "Exmo./Exma. Sr./Sra. [Nome do inquilino]": the formal salutation, "Dear Mr./Ms." followed by the tenant's full name as it appears in the lease.
4. First main paragraph: you identify yourself as the landlord of the property at the address given, and formally notify the tenant, under article 1097 of the Civil Code, of your opposition to the renewal of the lease. It states the start date of the contract and the date on which the current term ends (the next renewal date).
5. Second main paragraph: it states that, under the law, the lease will end on that date and will not renew automatically, and it asks the tenant to hand back the property free of people and belongings by the stated move-out date (normally the end date of the lease).
6. Third main paragraph: it confirms that the notification is being made with the notice period legally required by article 1097(1) of the Civil Code. This sentence matters because respecting the notice period is what makes the opposition valid.
7. "Com os melhores cumprimentos": the formal closing, equivalent to "Yours sincerely", followed by your name, your NIF (Portuguese tax number) and an optional contact.

What to fill in each field

• [Cidade] and [Data]: the city where you write the letter and today's date
• [Nome do inquilino]: the tenant's full name as it appears in the lease
• [Morada completa]: full address, street, number, floor, unit, postal code and locality
• [Data de início do contrato]: the date the lease agreement was signed
• [Data de fim / próxima renovação]: the date the lease renews or ends
• [Data de saída]: the move-out date, normally the same as the lease end date
• [Nome e NIF do senhorio]: your name and your Portuguese tax number (NIF)

How to send it?

The letter must be sent as a registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt (AR). The acknowledgment slip signed by the tenant is your legal proof that they were notified.

1. In person at a CTT branch. Print the letter, sign it, go to a branch of CTT (the Portuguese postal service) and ask for a "carta registada com aviso de receção". Approximate cost: 3–4€.
2. Online in 5 minutes. At cartaregistada.pt we prepare the letter with your details in Portuguese, you handle the signature and we send it through CTT. 14.99€, no trips to the post office, ideal if you are abroad.