← FFCheckElectricity & gasPT
Electricity & gas · Portugal
Checked 2026-09-30

🔑 I rent my home in Portugal: who pays for energy and how do I check the service charges?

The short answer

As a tenant you either have your own energy contract or you pay energy through the rent or service charges. The rules on shared meters and yearly statements protect you.

📜 The rules in Portugal

Energy costs for tenants

As a tenant you can sign your own electricity or gas contract and choose your supplier. Your rental contract (contrato de arrendamento) is accepted as proof that you live there, and the supplier cannot refuse you because of a previous occupant's debts.

  • The exception: a supplier may refuse if the change of account holder is clearly meant to avoid paying a debt (RRC art. 21). (erse.pt)
  • Tenants may also install an electric car charging point in the building's garage, after written notice to the condominium (Decreto-Lei 93/2025). (dgeg.gov.pt)
Official source: erse.pt · Checked 2026-09-30

🪜 Step by step

  1. Find out how you payYour own contract with a supplier, or energy through the landlord? Your tenancy agreement says so.
  2. Ask for the statementIf the landlord charges energy or heating, ask for the yearly statement and how your share is worked out.
  3. Check the rules for PortugalSee below what landlords must do on meters, cost splitting and statements.
  4. Dispute in writingWrite to the landlord with your questions. If there is no solution, go to the body named below.

📇 Who to contact

DECO - Associação Portuguesa para a Defesa do ConsumidorIndependent advice for consumersFor advice, template letters and a second opinion🔗 www.deco.proteste.pt

❓ Questions

Can I choose my own supplier as a tenant?

If you have your own meter and contract, usually yes. If energy is in the rent, the landlord chooses.

How is heating split between flats?

Often by individual meters or heat cost allocators plus a fixed share. The rules for Portugal are on this page.

Can the landlord cut my energy?

A landlord may not simply cut your supply. Contact the body named on this page.

📎 Sources

Checked: 2026-09-30

🧭 Is this still correct?

We check this information carefully, but phone numbers, websites and rules change — and sometimes we get something wrong. Spotted a mistake or a change? Let us know below.

🔗 Also useful

🌡️District heating, oil and LPG→📦Moving house→🧾Wrong or high bill→🔄Switching supplier→📈Price increase→

More help in Portugal

All other problems: who handles whatWho do I contact?100+ things that go wrong — money, housing, work, safety, health, papers, government — and the one desk in Portugal that actually handles each: phone, site, and what to say when they pick up.Before it goes wrongCan I?What is allowed, what is not, which permit you need — with the official source.Recognise it firstIs dit veilig?Check a phone number, website or message against 47,000 scam dossiers.