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Deposit & Rent Calculator

Deposit & Rent: what you pay to start a rental

How much you need on hand to sign a Portuguese lease: the caução (deposit), first month’s rent and any advance rent, added into one honest total. Plus the limits the law sets, so you can tell when a request is out of line.

By Elijah·UPDATED JULY 2026·4 MIN·OFFICIAL SOURCES
KEY FACTS
Caução (legal cap)
Up to 2 months’ rent (art. 1076 CC)
Advance rent
Max 2 months, written agreement only
Recibo de renda (rent receipt)
Mandatory for every payment
Law as of
Consolidated Civil Code, 2026
€
−2+
Limite legal: 2 rendas (art. 1076.º CC)
SimNão
O mês em que o contrato começa: em regra paga-se ao assinar.
−0+
Limite legal: 2 meses, só com acordo escrito.
A ENTREGAR NO INÍCIO
€0
  • Caução€0
  • 1.ª renda€0
  • Renda adiantada€0

How this works

Moving into a rental costs more than one month. The landlord usually asks for a caução (a deposit that just sits there as a guarantee) and the first month’s rent, and sometimes months of advance rent on top. This calculator splits the three apart, shows the total due on signing day, and flags when a figure exceeds what the law allows. The limits come from article 1076 of the Civil Code, as in force in 2026.

  1. 1
    Enter the monthly rent
    Everything is computed from this. Use the rent agreed in the contract, in euros.
  2. 2
    Choose the months of deposit
    Two months is normal. The law does not let the landlord demand more; if you go higher, the tool warns you.
  3. 3
    Set the 1st rent and advance rent
    The 1st rent is the month the lease starts. Advance rent (max 2 months) is optional and needs a written agreement.
  4. 4
    Read the total and your rights
    The total due appears below, each part itemised. Under it, a short summary of your rights.

Your rights, in short

  • The caução is cappedBy article 1076(2) of the Civil Code, the caução cannot exceed two months’ rent. A clause asking for more is void in the excess.
  • Advance rent is limited and optionalAdvance rent is allowed only with a written agreement and for at most two months. It is payment for future months, not a guarantee.
  • A receipt for every paymentThe landlord must issue a recibo de renda for each payment (normally the electronic receipt on the Portal das Finanças). Keep every one.
  • Get it back if unusedAt the end, the caução returns to you unless there is unpaid rent or real damage beyond normal wear, which the landlord must justify. Photograph the home in and out.

Frequently asked

How much caução (deposit) can the landlord ask for?
Article 1076(2) of the Civil Code says the parties may secure the obligations "up to the value of two months’ rent". Two months is the ceiling. Anything above that is void to that extent: you can refuse to pay the excess. Many landlords ask for exactly two months; nothing stops you negotiating less.
Is the caução the same as advance rent?
No, and people mix them up. The caução is a guarantee: it sits as security against damage or unpaid rent and must be returned at the end if unused. Advance rent is actual payment for future months: those months are paid up front. The law treats them separately (art. 1076). The contract should name each one distinctly.
Why is the upfront total usually three months?
Because they add up different things. At the start you pay the 1st month’s rent (the month the lease begins, which is not an advance) plus a two-month caução. One month + two months’ caução = three months upfront, with no advance at all. If advance rent is added on top, the law allows at most two more months, and only with a written agreement.
Must the landlord issue a recibo de renda (rent receipt)?
Yes. The landlord must issue a recibo de renda for each payment, normally the electronic receipt via the Portal das Finanças, or a paper receipt with the legal details if exempt. Keep them all; they prove what you paid and how long you have rented. With no receipt you have no evidence before Finanças or in court.
When do I get the caução back?
The caução is a guarantee, not a payment: if at the end there is no damage beyond normal wear and no rent owed, it should be returned. The landlord may deduct the cost of real damage you caused, but must justify it. Photograph the home the day you move in and the day you leave: that is your best protection.
OFFICIAL SOURCES
DISCLAIMER
This tool does the arithmetic and summarises general Civil Code rules for residential tenancies; it is not legal advice and does not replace reading your contract. Special cases (commercial leases, old contracts, rent support schemes) have their own rules. When in doubt, talk to a lawyer or solicitor.