What it covers
Rehabilitating a house means keeping what is good about it and fixing what no longer works: badly organised rooms, damp, tired roofs, poor insulation. Architect Ana Pinho starts by getting to know the house thoroughly and only then proposes what to do, always with the budget in mind.
The service can include:
- a survey and diagnosis of the existing house;
- alternatives for reorganising the rooms;
- better thermal comfort and energy efficiency;
- the architecture project and, where needed, licensing;
- the construction project, the choice of materials and the follow-up of the works.
Diagnosis first
In an older house, surprises tend to appear once the works have started. To reduce them, Ana visits the house, surveys what is there and records the condition of the structure, walls, roof, services and windows. When needed, she recommends an engineer’s assessment before deciding.
With that diagnosis, the decisions become clear: what stays, what is repaired and what is replaced.
Do you need a licence?
Not all rehabilitation works follow the same procedure. Interior works that do not change the structure, the height, the shape of the façades or the shape of the roofs may be exempt from prior control; others need a prior notice (comunicação prévia) or a licence from the Câmara Municipal (the municipal council). The Simplex Urbanístico reform (Decree-Law no. 10/2024) has changed several of these procedures since 2024, so each case is confirmed with the council of the municipality.
How it works
- We listen. A conversation about the house, how you want to live in it and what does not work today. Ana visits the house in person whenever the project calls for it, in Pinhal Novo, across the Setúbal Peninsula and in Lisbon.
- We counsel. The diagnosis and a study of alternatives, with priorities in order: what is urgent, what improves comfort and what can wait.
- We solve. The architecture project and, where needed, the procedure with the Câmara Municipal, with the specialist projects it requires.
- We deliver. The construction project, the choice of materials and the follow-up of the works to the end.
What to gather
- The tax record (caderneta predial) and the land registry certificate (certidão permanente).
- Earlier plans and licences, if they exist.
- Photographs of the house, inside and out, including the problem areas.
- The budget and a list of what you would like to change.
Timelines and fees
Timelines depend on the project: the condition of the house, the scale of the works and whether a procedure with the Câmara Municipal is needed. After the diagnosis, Ana gives you a realistic estimate.
Fees are set for each project in a clear proposal and paid in stages as the work progresses.
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to renovate or to start a new house?
It depends on the condition of the house, what the municipal plan allows and what you value in the existing building. The diagnosis gives you what you need to decide calmly.
Can I improve the energy efficiency?
Yes. Insulating walls and roofs, better-performing windows and rooms arranged with the sun in mind make a big difference to comfort. A renovation is the right moment to do it.
What if parts of the house were never legalised?
It is common in older houses. In that case the legalisation can be handled in the same process; see the legalisation page.
Can a renovation be done in stages?
Yes. When the budget or family life calls for it, the works can be split into stages, starting with what is urgent, such as the roof or damp, and leaving for later what can wait. The project plans those stages from the start, so each one leaves the house working.
Can I keep living in the house during the works?
It depends on the scale of the works. Localised works often let you stay at home; a deep renovation usually needs a temporary move. This is planned ahead, during the project.
Find out more
Meet architect Ana Pinho and see how a project works, or look at the interior design service, which can accompany a renovation from the start.