But what can a landlord actually demand?

Portuguese law does not specifically say that landlords must accept pets in a rented property. This means an owner can generally decide not to rent a home to someone with an animal and can include a no-pets clause in the tenancy agreement.

If pets are prohibited, that condition should be written into the contract.

The situation becomes less straightforward once a tenant is already living in the property.

Portuguese courts have previously found that simply breaching a no-pets clause may not, by itself, always be enough to terminate a tenancy. Individual circumstances can matter, particularly where an animal plays an important role in the life or wellbeing of someone living in the home.

That does not make a no-pets clause meaningless. For tenants, the safest approach is to settle the issue before signing rather than move in and hope an exception will be made later.

What if the contract says nothing about pets?

If there is no restriction written into the tenancy agreement, there is no contractual ban on keeping a pet.

Tenants still have responsibilities, of course. An animal cannot be allowed to cause serious disturbance to neighbours, damage the property or create hygiene problems.

There are also limits on how many animals can normally be kept in an urban property.

Up to three adult dogs or four adult cats may be kept in each home, provided the overall number does not exceed four animals. In some circumstances, local authorities can authorise up to six adult animals following the appropriate health and veterinary assessments.

Can the condominium ban them?

Living in an apartment building adds another layer.

A condominium can set rules covering issues such as animals moving through communal areas, including stairways, corridors and lifts.

A blanket ban on keeping pets inside individual apartments is more difficult. According to Idealista’s legal summary, such a restriction generally cannot simply be introduced through ordinary condominium rules unless it derives from the building’s constitutive title or has been agreed unanimously by the condominium owners.

For anyone renting an apartment with an animal, checking both the tenancy agreement and the condominium rules before moving in can avoid trouble later.

Assistance dogs are different

Certified assistance dogs have specific legal protection in Portugal.

These include guide dogs for people who are blind or visually impaired, hearing dogs and service dogs trained to assist people with other disabilities.

Portuguese legislation protects the right of people accompanied by properly certified assistance dogs to access places, transport and establishments covered by the law.

Emotional support animals do not currently have the same specific legal status in Portugal.

Get permission in writing

If a landlord agrees to a pet, putting that agreement into the tenancy contract is the simplest way to protect both sides.

The contract can record the type and number of animals permitted. Tenants may also want photographs and an inventory showing the condition of the property when they move in, making it easier to establish later whether any damage has been caused.

Pet owners remain responsible for complying with the normal rules surrounding their animals, including registration, identification and vaccination requirements where applicable.

For tenants already searching for a home, however, the most important conversation may happen before any contract is signed.

A landlord in Portugal can generally refuse to rent a property to someone with a pet. What they cannot necessarily assume is that every no-pets clause will automatically justify ending an existing tenancy, regardless of the circumstances.