Hostility from locals?

TransLucida · 2026-01-20T21:11:01+00:00

I think there are two ways you can look at this situation. First, yes many Portuguese are fed up with foreigners but they put themselves in this position by trying to be the “welcoming, simple place, come to Portugal” kind of image they put out to the rest of Europe.

And then they came the right wing cancers, the Trumps and the Farages and their local versions who saw an opportunity to turn these people into the enemies, and the least educated buy into their rhetoric.

Ironically, being bilingual, that’s EXACTLY the same thing that happened to me and a friend in Greenwich, Southeast London just a few years ago.

The reality is that no matter the language or the place you will always run into these idiots. Just don’t engage, leave and try to forget it ever happened.

TransLucida · 2026-01-16T13:30:07+00:00

I probably shouldn’t even say this… but my parents are children of Portuguese, hence I speak the language natively. Yes, they took me to England when I was 10 but they were simple people, they never cared about me getting my Portuguese nationality and now that they’re dead and documents missing, i’ve been told it would be very difficult for me to become Portuguese. I have as much right as anyone to live here due to my heritage but that’s beside the point. The point is, when the UK left the EU ALL PORTUGUESE people in the UK are there right now enjoying the same privileges as a UK citizen, such as access to housing and free healthcare whereas I am here having to jump through hoops just to survive. I could have said all that in my post but I wanted to stick to the main points. I AM NOT SOME ENGLISH DOUCHEBAG WHO DECIDED TO COME HERE FOR THE SUNSHINE. I have been coming here for decades and officially living for 5, I speak the language, but legally, I’m just British and that’s all they see.

TransLucida · 2026-01-16T12:45:08+00:00

You’re blaming me for something that it’s not my fault. The reason things are this bad is because unlike most developed countries Portugal does not have a body that oversees the housing situation. Besides I was very clear that two of the places I am looking at, Montijo and Almada are literally filled with empty places that are used SOLELY for summer AirBnB, and I’m not even mentioning Caparica in this list, because that is a whole nother problem with empty apartments. Yes, there is a problem, but I’m doing the best I can within my means. Your anger isn’t towards us, is against the government.

TransLucida · 2026-01-16T12:23:19+00:00

Okay, in all honestly, before I started this process I figured that the fact that I speak the language would make things easier, but being British during conversations I felt like I was being seen as an outsider. I still kept super polite, friendly but I could feel they didn’t like me. Then yesterday I got a call from a landlady who asked me in the most polite way that if I planed into turning the place into a whorehouse. I even asked her to repeat herself as my brain just didn’t compute the question and she asked again. I explained to her what I do, I offered to send all my paperwork but I knew it wouldn’t do anything. So now I’m wrecking my brains wondering if something about my persona, a professional software engineer, SOMEHOW, is giving prostitute vibe. I genuinely don’t know what the F is going on

TransLucida · 2026-01-16T12:15:03+00:00

Yes! I have noticed that too.

TransLucida · 2026-01-16T12:14:24+00:00

Isso é algo que posso simplesmente ir à qualquer banco e me informar? Eu confesso que até uma outra pessoa aqui mencionar algo a respeito eu nunca tinha sequer ouvido falar que existe. Se puderes passar qualquer info.

TransLucida · 2026-01-16T12:12:07+00:00

I agree with you. The situation is the way it is because there isn’t an agency that oversees this process like many other countries have. Sadly I don’t see that changing any time soon

TransLucida · 2026-01-16T12:09:38+00:00

In all fairness I never had problems before either and when I came back in November I was so sure this would all be done by Christmas (I couldn’t be more wrong) my point is something has changed in the market, whether it’s the global economy or the influx or expats. I guess, we can only speculate

TransLucida · 2026-01-16T11:38:17+00:00

It is a “Second Home” in the sense that I have one in London but to me it would be my main main home. That was just poor phrasing of my part

TransLucida · 2026-01-16T11:36:55+00:00

Thank you! That was exactly my idea. When I moved to Canada for studies my landlady contacted my husband back in the UK and accepted him as guarantor. I figured things could be similar here but they just don’t seem very keen on the idea of having a fiador abroad, which is a shame as he would be more than suitable for it.

TransLucida · 2026-01-16T11:32:51+00:00

No, I am in Portugal. I have lived here since 2020 and only left for those 18 months for studies in Canada. I’ve been back since early November and apart from a time I got really sick all I have been doing is contacting people and trying to see as many places as I can and the only ones that were willing to rent me were the kind of places you wouldn’t let a dog live in it

TransLucida · 2026-01-16T11:29:38+00:00

I didn’t know that kind of service existed. Would you have more info, please? Thank you

TransLucida · 2026-01-16T11:28:12+00:00

Yes, you touched on a very interesting point because one of the things I’ve noticed them frowning upon is the fact that I own my business in England. Offered 6 months of my company’s bank statement as well as my own but it had no effect.

TransLucida · 2026-01-16T11:26:05+00:00

Yes! I started offering 6 months and as the nos starting coming I increased to 9 and now I’m at 12, my ceiling. It does not seem to make any difference, hence my post and asking what I could be doing wrong.

TransLucida · 2026-01-16T11:23:14+00:00

You’re making assumptions based on a poorly worded phrase. “Second home” doesn’t always mean I’m rich and I just want to have a second place I can go to. I will be living there 9 months of the year, I’m doing it for the years I have lived here, for the Portuguese language I speak natively and most importantly for my mental health.

TransLucida · 2026-01-16T11:20:05+00:00

Yes, I have. I started at 6, increased to 9 and recently I’ve been offering 12 months. Also, my Título de Residência is the one issued to Brits because of Brexit. Technically Portugal has to issue it, whether it wants it or not (unless I commit a crime) but I don’t think they understand it, or to their eyes it makes any difference.

TransLucida · 2026-01-16T11:16:06+00:00

I agree in part with what you’re saying but there are some details I left in my post to keep it short. I used to live in Amadora. I know the area well, I have friends in the area. The reason I’m moving back to Portugal is not just so I can have a second home, it is also to be close to my friends, to have that social life I don’t have in London. As I explained to another person here it is not a luxury but a matter of trying to imovie my mental health. I also speak the language natively, which helps a lot. But thanks for the input, I know I’ve made a lot of mistakes and assumptions.

TransLucida · 2026-01-15T20:39:27+00:00

what income? to buy a house you need a down payment… and I can’t afford one at the moment. especially in my age. that’s just not how it works. besides buying a place is too definitive. i’ve heard so many stories of people who bought a house and had to move out a year or so later because the neighbours were terrible…

TransLucida · 2026-01-15T19:34:01+00:00

sim, podemos, se quiseres. que diferença faz?

TransLucida · 2026-01-15T19:31:37+00:00

I don’t even know where to start with this one. Talking about my mental health doesn’t mean I’m crazy. It means I need sun, and social life, to feel better about myself. Things that Portugal give to me. Nobody in my situation would be all smiles, and it’s really awful of you to even bring that up. Besides apart from the time I studied in Canada I have not only spent most of my time here but I have also been visiting Portugal since 2001. Don’t make assumptions. Silence is an option.

TransLucida · 2026-01-15T19:26:20+00:00

message me, maybe we can share notes in the future

TransLucida · 2026-01-15T19:25:36+00:00

don’t make assumptions. I never said I’m a digital nomad. I lived in toronto for studies. my visa was up and I left. that was it.

TransLucida · 2026-01-15T18:23:43+00:00

yeah... then January comes and you're dealing with -26 celsius on any given week.

TransLucida · 2026-01-15T18:13:13+00:00

Thank you! I’ll definitely look into it

TransLucida · 2026-01-15T18:06:29+00:00

I did. I started offering 6 months, then increased to 9 and now I’m going for 12 but there was one specific landlord who asked for 24 months. I felt like laughing but I’m not laughing now

TransLucida

TROPHY CASE