The company housing in Lisbon that comes with customer advisor and content moderator roles is a furnished shared flat, provided for the whole 12 month contract and for every renewal. Rent, utilities (water, electricity, gas) and internet are paid 100 % by the employer. You get a private bedroom in an apartment shared with other international employees, in Lisbon or Porto depending on the role. Here is, point by point, what the housing covers, what it does not, and what happens at renewal or if you decide to leave.
What is included and what is not
The principle is simple: everything related to the roof over your head and basic furnishings is covered, everything related to your personal consumption stays with you. The table below shows the most common split. A few points vary from one flat to another, hence the column “to check”: ask before you sign.
| Item | Status | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | Included | Paid directly by the employer, nothing comes out of your pocket |
| Utilities (water, electricity, gas) | Included | Covered for normal use |
| Internet | Included | Fixed connection of the flat, shared between flatmates |
| Furniture | Included | Bed, wardrobe, desk or table, equipped kitchen, washing machine |
| Bed linen and towels | To check | Often provided on day one, sometimes to bring |
| Cleaning of common areas | To check | Sometimes done by a service, otherwise organised between flatmates |
| Food | Not included | Your groceries are your own expense |
| Transport | Not included | Navegante card, about 40 € per month |
| Deposit | To check | Usually no deposit asked from the employee, confirm in writing |
Two useful clarifications. Covered utilities assume reasonable consumption: heating a bedroom with the window open in January is not what the agreement has in mind. And the internet is the flat’s connection, not a personal line: if you need a dedicated connection for private use, you pay for it yourself.
Who your flatmates are and how shared living works
You share the flat with two to four other employees of the same company, recruited like you from a European country. We recruit French, German and Dutch speakers, so the flat is international by design, and it is often the first circle of friends when you arrive. Everyone has a lockable bedroom; the kitchen, living room and bathroom are shared.
The basic rules are those of any shared flat, with one particularity: shift hours. A flatmate working from 10 pm to 7 am sleeps when you come home from the office. Respecting quiet hours, sharing the fridge and the cleaning, and a minimum of communication about guests solve 90 % of situations. The employer sets a written framework (no subletting, no loud parties, no pets without agreement) and a housing contact answers practical questions. For daily life, read our guide on living in shared accommodation in Lisbon in 2026.
Where the flats are located
The flats are in residential areas served by metro or bus, with a commute of 20 to 40 minutes to the offices. The exact address depends on the role and on availability when you arrive: it is communicated before departure, not at application stage. So do not expect to choose your neighbourhood; expect a clean, furnished and well connected place.
Public transport runs on the Navegante card, about 40 € per month for the whole Lisbon metropolitan area, metro, bus, tram, suburban train and ferry included. In Porto the principle is the same with the Andante card. Our article on public transport in Lisbon covers lines, timetables and tips for late shifts.
How long you keep the housing
The housing is tied to the employment contract: you keep it for the whole 12 month fixed term contract and, if the contract is renewed, for the whole renewal. There is no “six months and then find your own place” limit of the kind some other employers apply. As long as you are employed, you are housed, on the same terms.
If you leave early, the same logic applies in reverse. An early departure means giving notice (30 days for a fixed term contract of under two years under the Portuguese Labour Code) and the housing ends on the date the contract ends. The exact deadline to vacate the room is agreed with the employer; in practice a few days are usually granted to organise the return. The European rules on working in another member state are summarised on Your Europe.
What it changes financially
In a young professional’s budget, housing is the first expense by far. Here it disappears. With a salary of about 1,060 € gross per month, paid 14 times a year, and housing paid 100 %, the real disposable amount is between 900 and 1,000 € per month, bonuses included. This is an estimate: the social security deduction (11 %) is fixed, the income tax deduction (IRS) depends on your personal situation.
| Item | Standard rental | Company housing |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | Your expense | 0 € |
| Utilities and internet | Your expense | 0 € |
| Deposit and agency fees | To advance | None in most cases |
| Food, going out, transport | Your expense | Your expense |
| Estimated disposable amount | Variable | 900 to 1,000 € per month |
To compare with other offers, keep one simple rule: a higher salary elsewhere is only worth more once you subtract the cost of a place to live, utilities and a connection. The same logic applies to every role we present in Lisbon and Porto: each position comes with a flat.
Questions to ask before you sign
Provided housing is a benefit, not a black box. Before signing, ask these questions in writing and keep the answers in your inbox.
| Question | Why it matters | Expected answer |
|---|---|---|
| How long is the housing guaranteed? | Avoids a bad surprise after a few months | Whole contract, renewal included |
| Are utilities capped? | To know what “normal use” means | Covered for reasonable use |
| How many flatmates? | To anticipate how spaces are shared | 2 to 4, private bedroom |
| Is there an inventory on arrival? | Protects both parties when you leave | Yes, written and signed on day one |
| What to do if there is a problem? | Breakdown, neighbour, conflict between flatmates | A named, reachable housing contact |
| Can I change flats? | If cohabitation does not work | Possible depending on availability, on request |
From the flight to the keys: how Expat-U and the employer organise your arrival
Expat-U is a recruitment agency, free for candidates. We pre select French, German and Dutch speakers for customer advisor and content moderator roles with a large international company in Lisbon and Porto: 12 month renewable contract, paid initial training of 2 to 4 weeks, housing provided for the whole contract, flight reimbursed for French speakers and paid directly for German and Dutch speakers. The open roles are grouped on our jobs in Portugal page, with the dedicated French, German and Dutch pages linked from there.
In practice, on day one: a representative of the employer welcomes you at the airport and drives you to the flat. You receive your keys, do the inventory of your room and the common areas, and meet your flatmates. The first week is dedicated to training and to paperwork (NIF tax number, social security number), handled by the company. For what comes next, our guide on settling in Portugal lists the steps of the first weeks. Official European job offers can also be browsed on EURES, and Portuguese administrative procedures on ePortugal.
FAQ
Is the housing really free?
Yes. Rent, water, electricity, gas and internet are paid 100 % by the employer for the whole duration of the contract. Nothing is deducted from your salary of about 1,060 € gross per month for housing.
Can I choose my neighbourhood or my flatmates?
No. The flat is allocated according to availability when you arrive, in a residential area served by public transport, 20 to 40 minutes from the offices. A change remains possible later, on request and depending on free rooms.
What happens when the contract is renewed?
The housing follows the contract. If your 12 month contract is renewed, you keep your room on the same terms, with no new paperwork and no fees. You do not have to look for a place after the first year.
What if I want to leave before the end of the 12 months?
You respect the notice period set by the Portuguese Labour Code, 30 days for a fixed term contract of under two years, and the housing ends with the contract. The exact date to vacate the room is agreed with the employer.
Can I come with my partner or a friend?
You can apply together. If both applications are successful, the request to be housed in the same flat is reviewed case by case, depending on availability, without guarantee. People who are not employees of the company cannot be accommodated.
Last updated on 21 October 2026.
