Our accountant in the UK explained that we didn’t need to report the rent as we were non residents in Portugal.

We bought it with our hard earned sterling, only rented it to Brits and we are paid into our Barclays Bank account in the UK.

I don’t understand what the Portuguese have to do with it.

I asked around our neighbours and it looks as if the Câmara looks at the water consumption to see if your property is lived in more than 3 months a year, as this is the maximum stay for non residents.

We are going to appeal to this ridiculous €33,676.58 fine, nearly bankrupting us.

Howard, By email