Thanks f_ribeiro - your point is well made. The owner of the villa and business has been operating for almost 10 years now and has been officially declaring his business to the authorities without any hassle to date. Have you any idea what sort of chance there is that the Pedido de Informação prévio would be successful. Is it something I should build into any offer I make as a pre-requisite to the deal going through?
Thanks again.