The Council of Ministers approved a decree-law allowing a single heir to demand the sale of property held in an undivided inheritance (herança indivisa) if no agreement is reached within two years. Minister of the Presidency António Leitão Amaro stated that the measure aims to release some of the 485,000 vacant homes and rural plots currently immobilized by succession disputes. Under the new rules, properties will undergo independent valuations before being sold, typically through electronic auction if out-of-court settlements fail.
Government Approves Measure to Unlock Properties in Disputed Inheritances
Thursday, 22 October 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
António Leitão Amaro is Portugal's Minister of the Presidency (Ministro da Presidência) in the government led by Luís Montenegro. He is a key figure in the Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata or PSD) and often is the government's spokesperson. Those following housing and rental policy should note his role in announcing the June 2024 measures regarding evictions and inheritances.
An undivided inheritance (herança indivisa) refers to an estate whose assets, such as real estate or land, are collectively owned by all heirs before being formally partitioned. In Portugal, these joint ownerships often stall property sales and renovations for decades when family members disagree on asset disposal. Recent legal reforms allow a single co-heir to demand the sale of stalled inherited property to help bring empty homes onto the market.
4 sources
- Government approves decree-law to unlock properties held in undivided inheritancesdn.pt ·
- Government approves decree-law allowing an heir to demand the sale of a house after two yearseco.sapo.pt ·
- Government approves final version of the new inheritance regimeobservador.pt ·
- Housing: Government approves decree regulating new rules to unblock undivided inheritancesrtp.pt ·
