Pedro Correia Real EstateEmpty house IMI check
The council does not need to visit. Water and electricity readings are enough to flag a house as devoluto. Run your numbers.
—
How to read the result
- Thresholds are annual. 7 m³ of water is about 20 showers. 35 kWh is a fridge running for two weeks. A closed apartment from October to May is usually under both.
- The council notifies you first. You get a letter to the address in the land registry. If that address is the empty house, you do not see it.
- Fixing it costs less than the penalty. A monthly visit that runs the taps, the heating and the lights keeps the readings above the line. That is part of my property management routine.
Full detail, with sources: The empty house: how IMI triples after a year.
FAQ
What counts as an empty (devoluto) property?
An urban property that for one year has had no water, electricity or gas contract, or consumption below 7 m³ of water and 35 kWh of electricity, or no registered use. The council classes it after notifying the owner.
What is the IMI increase?
Triple the normal IMI. In a declared urban pressure zone the rate is multiplied by 10, increases 20% per year while the property stays empty, and is capped at 20 times.
How do I get out of it?
Use the property or let it, keep consumption above the thresholds, and ask the council to revoke the classification with proof. The increase stops the year after.