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For people with reduced mobility in condominiums, three or four steps at the entrance can be a daily barrier. The good news is that Portuguese law gives any owner the right to install access ramps and, in some cases, stair or platform lifts in the common parts, without needing the approval of the general meeting, as long as a member of their household has reduced mobility. In this guide we explain what the Civil Code says in 2026, how to notify the administrator, who pays for the works and the upkeep, and which technical rules must be followed.
In short
- If a member of the household has reduced mobility, any owner can install access ramps and platform lifts in the common parts (article 1425(4) of the Civil Code).
- No meeting vote is needed, but prior notice to the administrator is compulsory, at least 15 days in advance (paragraph 7).
- A platform lift is only allowed where there is no lift with a door and car large enough for a wheelchair user.
- The works must comply with the technical accessibility standards (Decree-Law 163/2006, as amended).
- The costs are borne by whoever installed it (article 1424(5)); other owners can join later by paying their share (article 1426(5)).
The right set out in the Civil Code
The general rule for new works in the common parts is demanding: improvements need a majority of owners representing two thirds of the building’s total value. The law makes an exception for accessibility:
«4 – No caso de um dos membros do respetivo agregado familiar ser uma pessoa com mobilidade condicionada, qualquer condómino pode, mediante prévia comunicação nesse sentido ao administrador e observando as normas técnicas de acessibilidade previstas em legislação específica, efetuar as seguintes inovações: a) Colocação de rampas de acesso; b) Colocação de plataformas elevatórias, quando não exista ascensor com porta e cabina de dimensões que permitam a sua utilização por uma pessoa em cadeira de rodas.» — Civil Code, article 1425(4)
In plain English: an owner does not ask for permission here; they give notice. The general meeting cannot block the works because it dislikes how they look or what they cost, provided the legal requirements are met. The general limit in paragraph 8 of the same article still applies, however: no improvement may prevent another owner from using their own or the common parts. A ramp that blocks a neighbour’s garage exit, for example, does not comply with the law.
Who can rely on this right
- Owners of units whose household includes a person with reduced mobility.
- Reduced mobility can result from disability, age, illness or any other condition that makes moving around difficult.
- A tenant is not an owner: they should ask the landlord to give the notice or to put the works to a vote at the general meeting.
Understanding the rules of horizontal property helps explain why the right belongs to the owner rather than the occupant. Our guide to the rights and duties of condominium owners covers the wider picture.
Step by step: installing a ramp or platform lift
| Step | What to do | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Design | Ask a qualified technician for a solution that meets the accessibility standards | DL 163/2006 |
| 2. Permits | Check with the local council whether the works need prior approval | RJUE |
| 3. Notice | Tell the administrator in writing at least 15 days before work starts | Art. 1425(4) and (7) |
| 4. Works | Carry out the works without restricting other owners’ use of the common parts | Art. 1425(8) |
| 5. Upkeep | Maintain the equipment, at the cost of whoever installed it | Art. 1424(5) |
The notice should identify the unit, describe the works, include the design or a sketch and give the planned start date. Keep proof that you sent it, for example by sending a registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt.
Decree-Law 163/2006 sets out the technical standards: ramp gradients, landing sizes, handrails and clear widths. A technician familiar with these standards avoids having to redo the works later.
Who pays for the works and the upkeep
Article 1424(5) is clear: only the owners who installed ramps or platform lifts under this regime share in the costs. This covers both the installation and the maintenance.
If another owner later wants to use the platform, they can do so at any time by paying their share of the installation and maintenance costs (article 1426(5)). This rule stops anyone from refusing to contribute and then using the equipment for free.
What if the general meeting wants to do the works for everyone? It can approve them as an improvement, with the majority in article 1425(1), and the costs are then split according to permillage. For lifts in buildings with at least eight units, a majority of owners representing a majority of the total value is enough (paragraph 2). Read more in our guide to improvement works and, for lifts, our article on lift legislation in condominiums.
What if the person no longer needs it?
Ramps and platform lifts can be removed by the owners who installed them or paid their share, provided this can be done without damaging the building and they agree among themselves (paragraph 5). The intention to remove them must also be notified to the administrator 15 days in advance. If removal is not possible, the owner is entitled to the corresponding value, calculated under the rules on unjust enrichment (paragraph 6).
Other accessibility measures the condominium can approve
Not everything requires major works. The general meeting can approve simple measures by the ordinary majority:
- Handrails on both sides of the stairs.
- Lighting with motion sensors on the landings.
- Door handles and call buttons at an accessible height.
- A reserved parking space near the entrance, set out in the condominium regulations.
- Automatic doors or doors with assisted opening.
- High-contrast markings on the edges of steps.
These measures are usually inexpensive and also help older residents, parents with pushchairs and anyone carrying shopping.
Talking to your neighbours
Even when no vote is needed, it pays to talk first. Explaining the works at a general meeting, or in a short note to the other owners, reduces the risk of objections once the builders arrive. Share the design, the timetable and how the common parts will be protected during the works. Most disputes over accessibility works are not about the right itself but about noise, dust and access during the works.
Checklist for the owner
- Confirm that the works are covered by article 1425(4) (ramp or platform lift).
- For a platform lift, confirm that there is no suitable lift in the building.
- Get a design that meets the technical accessibility standards.
- Check whether the council needs prior notice or a permit.
- Give the administrator at least 15 days’ notice in writing.
- Keep the invoices, in case another owner wants to join and pay their share later.
How Condoroo helps
Condoroo manages more than 600 condominiums, including buildings with more than 300 units, with a team of more than 20 professionals. In cases like these, we help the owner prepare the notice and fit the works into the building’s schedule, so that the installation goes ahead without conflict. Our technicians carry out more than 35 inspections a day and can check the common parts before and after the works.
Reduced mobility in condominiums: frequently asked questions
Do I need the general meeting's approval to install a ramp?
No, if a member of your household has reduced mobility. You only need to give the administrator 15 days’ prior notice and comply with the technical accessibility standards (article 1425(4) and (7)).
Can I install a platform lift if the building has a lift?
Only if the existing lift does not have a door and car large enough for a wheelchair user.
Who pays for the ramp or platform lift?
Whoever installed it. Only the owners who installed it share in the installation and maintenance costs (article 1424(5)).
Can another owner use the platform I paid for?
Yes, at any time, provided they pay their share of the installation and maintenance costs (article 1426(5)).
Can a tenant give the notice?
The right belongs to the owner. A tenant should ask the landlord to give the notice or to put the works to a vote at the general meeting.
Can the meeting refuse the works?
Not if the legal requirements are met. It can only object if the works would prevent another owner from using their own or the common parts (article 1425(8)).
This article is for information only and does not replace legal advice on your specific case. Legislation checked on 26 October 2026.
