We bought our brand-new villa in the Algarve just outside Quinta do Lago and moved in during May 1987. We immediately designed the garden and swimming pool and employed local Portuguese firms to do all the external work. Over the years, we have upgraded the villa several times, always employing local firms. Our three daughters and now their families have in recent years enjoyed numerous holidays there and we have been spending on average six to nine months of the year living in Portugal but have always been coming and going for several weeks at a time throughout the year.
This is our second family home, we do not rent it out and hoped to have many more years doing what we have always done. Becoming a Portuguese resident is simply not an option, we are retired and are now in our 70s.
Reluctantly, we will be selling our villa and taking longer holidays in other parts of the world. It is a shame but unless the restrictions on time allowed to stay are changed, we will move on.
Nick and Glynis Gras
