Soaring housing costs are forcing households to share single properties, with extremes of up to six families under one roof, while many workers are taking on additional employment — including third jobs — to meet rent and mortgage bills. The situation points to a shortage of affordable accommodation, rising pressure on the local property market and public services, and wider impacts on health, education and the labour market.
Housing crisis forces multiple families to share the same home
Saturday, 17 January 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
Local accommodation (alojamento local) means short-term tourist rentals—private apartments, houses or rooms rented for days or weeks—that must be registered and licensed with municipal authorities. Municipalities can suspend or cancel licences (Lisbon cancelled about 6,700 licences in early 2026), so travellers and hosts should check a listing's registration and local rules before booking or offering stays.
