Lisbon Joins BUPi Network to Offer Simplified Land Registration Service
The Municipality of Lisbon has formally announced its adhesion to the Balcão Único do Prédio (BUPi) platform, a government initiative to simplify the identification and registration of rustic and mixed-use land. The announcement confirms that a new BUPi service desk will be established in Lisbon to assist property owners.
The specific details of this new service are that Lisbon residents who own rustic or mixed-use land in any part of Portugal can now complete the georeferenced graphical representation and registration process from the capital. This eliminates the previous requirement for owners to travel to the municipality where their land is physically located, a significant bureaucratic hurdle. The new service is the result of a protocol signed with the Institute of Registries and Notaries (IRN) and the Mission Structure for the Expansion of the Simplified Cadastral Information System (eBUPi).
The implementation timeline indicates that the new BUPi desk will be operational before the end of the year, located at the main municipal building at Campo Grande, 25. This will provide a centralized, accessible point of service for the many property owners who live in Lisbon but hold assets elsewhere in the country.
This new regulation primarily affects owners of rustic land (prédios rústicos) and mixed-use land (prédios mistos). This is particularly relevant for individuals who have inherited rural family properties or investors who have acquired land for agricultural or development purposes outside of urban zones. The BUPi process is essential for guaranteeing legal property rights and resolving boundary disputes.
The compliance requirements for property owners involve presenting documentation of ownership and working with BUPi technicians to create a georeferenced map of their property's boundaries. This digital map is then integrated into the national cadastral system, providing a definitive legal record of the property. The service is designed to be free and straightforward for the property owner.
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There are no direct penalties associated with this announcement; rather, it is an enabling measure. However, failing to register property can lead to significant legal complications in the future, including difficulties in selling the property, using it as collateral, or proving ownership in case of disputes. The BUPi system is designed to prevent these issues.
The industry reaction to the expansion of BUPi has been positive. Real estate lawyers and developers have long pointed to the lack of a comprehensive land registry for rustic properties as a major impediment to investment and development in rural areas. Bringing the service to Lisbon, where a large concentration of property owners resides, is seen as a critical step in accelerating the completion of the national cadastre.
A legal professional from a Lisbon law firm interpreted the new rules as a major step forward for legal certainty. “For years, we have dealt with clients, many of them living abroad, who struggled to manage inherited rural land because of unclear records. The ability to resolve this from a single point in Lisbon will be a game-changer for asset management and will unlock the value of many dormant properties.”
The government's rationale and objective are to complete Portugal's national cadastral map, enhance the legal security of property ownership, and create a more transparent and dynamic property market. This is also linked to better land management, fire prevention, and regional planning.
It is expected that related legislation or regulations may follow to further integrate the BUPi system with other digital government services, such as the tax authority and municipal planning departments. The long-term goal is a fully digital and integrated property information system.
Resources available for understanding compliance will be provided at the BUPi desk itself, and extensive information is available on the official BUPi government website, explaining the step-by-step process for landowners. Navigate Portuguese property regulations with expert guidance at realestate-lisbon.com.