The regulatory law, Law no. 31/2012 of August 14, states that the longer the contract, the longer the notice period.
If you are a tenant, you only need to notify the landlord of your decision to move out. As for the landlord, he may have to demonstrate a justification for terminating the lease if he intends to end it before the end of the established period.
Legal deadlines for tenants
To object to the automatic renewal of the contract, the minimum notice period is:
- 120 days, if the initial term of the contract or its renewal is equal to or greater than six years;
- 90 days, if the initial term of the contract or its renewal is equal to or greater than one year and less than six years;
- 60 days, if the initial term of the contract or its renewal is equal to or greater than six months and less than one year;
- One third of the initial term of the contract or its renewal, in the case of a term of less than six months.
All applicable time limits may be altered if so agreed in the Lease Agreement.
Legal deadlines for landlords
The landlord can only end the lease before the deadline if he can demonstrate certain justifications. If the owner of the property needs the house for living purposes or if there is a need to carry out work on the property, then it is possible to terminate before the stipulated deadline.
In the case of works, an early end to the contract is only justified in the case of more extensive works.
This means that, for example, if the landlord wants to sell the property, he cannot force the tenants to leave before the end of the contract. Even so, although he can't cancel the lease, he can sell the house. However, there is nothing to stop the landlord from not automatically renewing the lease, as long as he gives the tenant at least 120 days' notice:
- 120 days, if the initial term of the contract or its renewal is equal to or greater than one year and less than six years;
- 60 days, if the initial term of the contract or its renewal is equal to or greater than six months and less than one year;
- One third of the initial term of the contract or its renewal, in the case of a term of less than six months.
Source: SUPERCASA