Only One-Third of Rural Properties North of Tagus River Are Registered in Cadastre
Eight years after the implementation of the Balcão Único do Prédio (BUPi) single service desk for property registration, only a third of rural properties located north of the Tagus River have been successfully identified and georeferenced. This data highlights a significant gap in Portugal's land cadastre system, with potential financial consequences for property owners.
According to official information, the low rate of registration means that owners of unregistered properties may be ineligible for government support exceeding €10,000 in the event of damages, for instance, from wildfires. This policy creates a tangible risk for those who have not completed the necessary administrative procedures for their land holdings.
The scope of the issue is extensive. Of an estimated 8.6 million rural properties within the 156 municipalities that have adopted the BUPi system, only 2.8 million are currently registered. The government's stated objective is to increase this figure to 40% by the end of the current year.
The registration data also reveals a significant administrative challenge, indicating that one-third of the approximately 11 million rural properties registered with a tax identification number (NIF) in the land registry offices (conservatórias) remain in the name of deceased individuals. This complicates efforts to update the cadastre and ensure accurate ownership records.
The BUPi program was established to simplify the process of property identification and registration, which has historically been complex in many rural parts of Portugal. The current statistics, however, show that adoption has been slow, and a large number of properties remain outside the official georeferenced system. Authorities are urging landowners to utilize the BUPi service to regularize their properties to avoid future legal and financial complications. Navigate Portuguese property regulations with expert guidance at realestate-lisbon.com.
