Frequently asked questions
Understanding Habitar’s role
Do you speak the local language?
We work primarily in English.
Our role is not informal translation, but helping clients understand how overseas systems work in practice — where responsibility sits, what assumptions are risky, and what decisions matter most.
Where local-language input is required (legal, technical or statutory), we advise on engaging appropriate local professionals so nothing critical is misunderstood or assumed.
What experience do you have with overseas projects?
Habitar is led by a UK-qualified architect with over 20 years’ experience advising on residential projects.
While we do not deliver construction projects abroad, we have extensive experience working with overseas buyers investing in UK property, supporting them through unfamiliar planning systems, professional roles and regulatory frameworks.
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That experience directly informs our overseas advisory work: understanding where clients typically misjudge risk, scope and responsibility when operating outside their home country.
Are you local architects or contractors?
No - Habitar is an independent, client-side advisor.
We are not:
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local architects
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contractors or builders
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statutory certifiers or authorities
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All design, approvals and construction remain with locally appointed professionals, as required by relevant law.
What exactly does Habitar do?
We help overseas property buyers and owners gain clarity before decisions become difficult to reverse.
This typically includes:
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explaining how the local system works in practice
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testing whether a project is genuinely straightforward or quietly complex
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identifying where early risk typically sits
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highlighting which decisions matter most, and when
Our focus is on judgement and clarity — not managing construction.
What don’t you do?
We do not:​
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design buildings
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submit planning applications
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manage contractors day-to-day
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certify compliance
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replace local professionals
This separation is deliberate. It keeps our advice unbiased and focused solely on the client’s interests.
Who is your service for?
Habitar is suited to buyers and owners who:​
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are investing significant sums abroad
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are planning renovation, extension, reconfiguration or a new-build project
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want reassurance before committing time, money or contracts
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value clarity over optimism
If a project is genuinely small and low risk, we will say so.
Do you help people undertaking new-build projects?
Yes — where independent, early-stage clarity is genuinely valuable.
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Habitar works with overseas clients planning new-build homes, including self-build projects, where key decisions are made long before construction begins.
New-build projects often involve:
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higher regulatory exposure
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earlier commitment to scope and consultants
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assumptions carried over from a home system that doesn’t translate
Our role is not to design or manage construction, but to help clients understand:
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how the local system operates in practice
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where responsibility sits
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which early decisions are difficult to reverse
This allows clients to proceed with confidence — or pause — before significant time, money or contractual commitments are made.
When should I contact you?
As early as possible.
Ideally before:
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purchasing a property
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commissioning design work
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pricing construction
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signing contracts
Early clarity almost always prevents later cost and stress.
Can you help if I’ve already started?
Yes — within limits.
We can review:
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existing proposals
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early assumptions
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scope definitions
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professional appointments
However, once key commitments are made, options naturally reduce. Earlier involvement allows more meaningful intervention.
Do you visit the property?
Sometimes — where it is genuinely justified.
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Many early-stage reviews can be carried out remotely, using existing information, photographs, listings, drawings and professional input. In many cases, this is sufficient to identify key risks and decision points.
Site visits are considered where:
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the scale or complexity of the project warrants it
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physical context materially affects risk or feasibility
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an on-site review would add meaningful clarity
Any visit is agreed in advance and scoped carefully.
Habitar’s role remains advisory. A site visit is not a substitute for local professionals, statutory inspections or construction oversight — it is an additional layer of independent perspective where it adds real value.
Do you manage planning or approvals?
No.​
We explain how planning and approval systems operate, what is typically required, and where assumptions are risky — but formal submissions and approvals remain with local professionals.
How do you charge?
We work on clear, fixed fees for defined advisory input.
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We do not take commissions, percentages, or referral fees.
This ensures our advice remains independent and free from commercial pressure.
How are you different from a project manager?
Project managers are usually appointed after scope and commitments are set.
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Habitar is typically involved earlier, when:
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assumptions can still be tested
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risks can still be avoided
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decisions can still be paused
Our role is advisory, not managerial.
Can you recommend local professionals?
We can suggest the types of professionals typically required and advise on what to look for when appointing them.
Where appropriate, we may suggest individuals — transparently and without financial incentive. You remain fully in control of all appointments.
Can Habitar stay involved as a project progresses?
Where appropriate, yes.
Some clients want an early sense-check and nothing more.
Others value the reassurance of being able to return for independent input as key decisions arise.
This is not hands-on project management — it is independent guidance when it matters most.
Which countries do you cover?
We currently advise on projects in:
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Spain
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Portugal
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France
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Italy
Each country operates differently.
The need for independent advice does not.
What’s the biggest mistake overseas clients make?
Assuming the system protects them.
Most problems don’t arise from poor workmanship.
They arise from early misunderstandings about responsibility, scope and process — discovered only once time, money and options are constrained.
Habitar exists to prevent that.