Mobile Home for Holiday Rental: Investment Guide
By Matheus Agueda · 15 September 2026
Last updated: 18 September 2026
Mobile homes as a holiday rental investment
Holiday rental (Alojamento Local / AL) with mobile homes is one of the most profitable forms of tourism investment in Portugal. The initial investment is low, the time to first income is short and flexibility is total — you can change location, resell the unit or simply live in it when you stop renting.
Real numbers: how much it costs and how much it earns
Initial investment
| Component | Value (EUR) |
|---|---|
| 2-bed used refurbished mobile home, delivered and installed (positioning, levelling, connection to the plot's utility points included) | 28,000 - 40,000 |
| Site preparation (owner land works, if the plot needs it) | 1,000 - 3,000 |
| AL furniture and decoration | 2,000 - 5,000 |
| Deck/outdoor veranda | 1,500 - 4,000 |
| AL licence (municipal fee) | 150 - 500 |
| Estimated total | 34,150 - 56,000 |
Estimated revenue (Algarve scenario)
- Average price/night (high season Jun-Sep): 90 - 130 EUR
- Average price/night (rest of year): 50 - 75 EUR
- Average annual occupancy rate: 45 - 60%
- Gross annual revenue: 12,000 - 22,000 EUR
- Operating costs (cleaning, maintenance, platforms, insurance): 3,000 - 5,000 EUR/year
- Estimated net revenue: 9,000 - 17,000 EUR/year
- ROI: 15 - 35% per year
Payback
With a 45,000 EUR investment and net revenue of 12,000 EUR/year, the payback period is between 3 and 4 years. Compare with an apartment for holiday rental in the Algarve (minimum investment of 150,000 - 250,000 EUR) and the difference becomes clear.
AL licensing
Holiday rental registration in Portugal requires:
- Registration with the municipal council — online or in-person form
- Start of activity declaration with the tax authority (CAE 55201)
- Complaints book (physical and electronic)
- Civil liability insurance (mandatory)
- Identification plaque at the entrance
- Fire extinguishers and first aid kit per safety regulations
For a mobile home, AL registration also presupposes the planning title for the installation (a licence or prior communication under the RJUE).
Best locations
Algarve
Highest occupancy rates (55-70% annually), highest nightly prices. Municipalities such as Aljezur, Vila do Bispo and Tavira have strong demand for nature tourism; much of Aljezur and Vila do Bispo lies inside the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park, where in practice only licensed parks are an option.
Alentejo
Lower occupancy (35-50%) but significantly lower land and operating costs. Growing rural tourism, especially along the Rota Vicentina and Alqueva areas.
Centre (Serra da Estrela, Historic Villages)
Niche with growing demand for nature tourism and rural experiences. Less competition than in the Algarve.
Advantages over traditional property investment
- Investment 3 to 5 times lower than an apartment
- Shorter time to revenue — no construction works, although the planning title and AL registration still apply
- No property tax (IMI) while it is not entered in the matriz predial — the CIMI (art. 2.º, n.º 3) presumes permanence after one year in the same place, so a unit lived in permanently can be registered and taxed; for seasonal tourist use the advantage remains
- Mobility: if the location doesn't work, move the mobile home to another plot
- Resale: the market for used mobile homes is active and liquid
Explore the ideal units for holiday rental in the Green Village catalogue or simulate financing for your unit.