An essential public policy to tackle the housing crisis must force the thousands of private buildings that remain abandoned and decaying in Portuguese cities onto the market. Effective mechanisms to counter this inertia have been lacking, despite the reduction in housing supply and the associated environmental and safety risks. The problem also existed with State assets, but initiatives like the Revive programme and the transfer of property to municipalities have shown that solutions are possible with political will. However, in the private sector, the issue persists and continues to worsen, with an estimated 375,000 homes remaining off the market due to inheritance conflicts, speculation, or owner neglect. While the government has recently introduced measures to simplify inheritance processes and rehabilitation permits, these are not enough. Beyond incentives, it is necessary to apply sanctions to those who persist in keeping their properties abandoned. A more robust solution would be to grant municipalities the power to issue injunctions, forcing owners to renovate or sell their properties within a reasonable timeframe under penalty of monthly fines, as property rights also imply obligations to the community.