About Us
Our Foundation
Portalia Real Estate was founded by Raffaele Aru to create a structured vehicle for property development, built on two decades of experience executing residential projects in London.
Since 2007, City Houses Ltd. has delivered high-specification renovations and conversions across prime London postcodes, including Knightsbridge, Kensington, Hampstead, and St John's Wood. This operational track record provides the execution capability that underpins every Portalia project.
Operational Foundation
Portalia's development capability is built on over two decades of project delivery through City Houses Ltd.
Full internal reconfiguration of a prime eighth-floor apartment at Lancelot Place, SW7 (approximately 220 m² plus 31 m² terrace), completed in 2018.
The works involved complete internal strip-out, structural reconfiguration, five bathrooms, full M&E replacement, underfloor heating upgrades, marble flooring, and AV integration — all delivered under Building Control approval.
The project required careful coordination within a multi-unit building environment and the resolution of stakeholder objections during construction. It was completed in full compliance with regulatory requirements.
Full structural reconfiguration of a 150 m² apartment at St Stephens Close, NW8, completed in 2020.
The works involved major internal restructuring, including the installation of substantial steel beams and load-bearing support elements, full services replacement, and the formation of multiple bathrooms. The project was delivered under Building Regulations approval within a live multi-unit residential building.
The scheme required coordination between independent architect and interior design teams, alongside complex structural intervention. Careful sequencing and technical control were essential due to the scale of steelwork and structural reinforcement required.
This level of controlled execution in prime London forms the operational foundation of Portalia's development work.
What We Do
We acquire properties that are underperforming their potential—former commercial spaces, neglected residential buildings, or poorly configured layouts—and reposition them as functional, energy-efficient homes.
Our focus:
• Established locations with proven demand
• Projects where we control execution and costs directly
• Developments sized for proper oversight and quality delivery
Our Approach
Portalia is not a building contractor taking external projects. We are a development company with construction capability—a meaningful advantage in controlling outcomes.
We operate on the principle that property development is about managing risk, not maximising leverage. Our partners are collaborators, not transactions.
Founder
Raffaele Aru brings 20+ years of London property experience. His work spans acquisition strategy, planning negotiation, project execution, and delivery.
His focus has consistently been execution over expansion.
City Houses Ltd. remains his operational foundation—a business built on reputation, repeat clients, and disciplined execution. Portalia extends that same discipline into structured development partnerships with private capital.