Latest news and stories about affordable housing in Portugal for expats and residents.
The Matosinhos City Council has completed the handover of 512 housing units, with the final 105 keys delivered to residents this week. The project, funded by a €122 million investment, aims to increase the availability of public housing in the municipality.
The Lisbon City Council has unanimously approved the construction of a new three-story municipal building near the Jardim da Estrela. The project will provide 11 housing units, including studios and two-bedroom apartments, with construction expected to span 515 days.
Sonae Sierra and Solive have signed an agreement with the Porto City Council to build 331 affordable rental units in the Campanhã parish. The 'Cartes Living' project, expected to be completed by 2029, will be managed by the municipality under the 'Porto com Sentido' program, with the city acting as the landlord for up to 25 years.
Associação Zero advocated converting vacant or under‑utilised buildings into affordable housing as part of the National Building Renovation Plan (Plano Nacional de Reabilitação de Edifícios or PNRE), RTP reports. The group argues reoccupation can add supply without new construction; those seeking affordable housing or involved in renovations should follow PNRE rules and local incentives as the plan is implemented.
The PNRE is Portugal's National Building Renovation Plan (Plano Nacional de Reabilitação do Edificado), a government programme to renovate existing buildings, improve energy efficiency and encourage reuse of vacant or underused properties for housing. It bundles public funding, tax measures and technical guidance, so property owners, developers and those seeking affordable housing should watch its rules and incentives.
Associação Zero is a Portuguese environmental NGO (ZERO — Sustainable Terrestrial System Association) that campaigns on climate, energy and land‑use policies and often advocates measures like converting vacant buildings into affordable housing. Residents and people following housing or environmental policy should note its proposals and public pressure, which can influence local planning and national programmes like the PNRE.
Matosinhos municipality is facilitating the construction of 140 affordable rental units by granting land for 90 years, providing financial aid, and streamlining the approval process for housing cooperatives.
Portugal is facing a significant housing crisis, necessitating a shift in perspective towards renting as a viable solution. Traditionally a nation of homeowners, Portugal must embrace a robust rental market to address the needs of those unable to purchase homes. The built-to-rent model, which focuses on long-term rental projects, alongside public-private partnerships, can enhance the supply of quality rental housing. However, any strategy must consider income levels and the need for affordable housing solutions for the middle class. A diverse rental market, supported by effective public policies, is essential for creating inclusive cities and a balanced housing market.
The Deputy Mayor of Porto, Catarina Araújo, states that the Socialist Party and Chega did not present evidence that would lead to a change in the municipal services' analysis. The Prosecutor General's Office confirmed to Expresso that, following a complaint, an inquiry has been opened.
The homes, located in Cerrado da Mira, accommodate 56 people selected from approximately 500 applications. Construction costs totalled 6.9 million, fully funded by the RRP.
The average monthly rent will be 463 euros, a figure that, according to the mayor of Amadora, results from the application of the affordable rental scheme, with a 20% discount supported by the municipality.
Several dioceses are already studying the possibility
The auxiliary bishop of Porto argues that the Church should examine its heritage, including parish houses, seminaries, and convents, to see how it can contribute to the cause of affordable housing.
Loulé Council has handed over another 36 publicly owned homes at affordable rents, with many of the new tenants belonging to groups increasingly squeezed by the Algarve’s housing market. The The post Loulé hands over 36 affordable homes appeared first on Portugal Resident.
Porto City Council has received approximately 33 million euros since 2021 in financial compensation from urban development promoters for failing to build affordable housing in inclusive zoning areas, Pedro Duarte revealed this Wednesday. The Mayor of Porto, who was speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the launch of the new...
The municipality is waiting for contact from the institute to determine who will oversee the project. The mayor prefers the IHRU to lead, but admits to taking on the construction if necessary.
Created in March, Urbisjovem aims to build affordable housing in municipalities from the north to the south of the country. It is already negotiating land in Santarém for 44 units and in Almeirim.
The municipality already has 58 units under construction and ten nearly finished, but none ready to be handed over. Allocation depends on regulations currently being drafted by the Médio Tejo Intermunicipal Community.
Of the 64 units currently planned, 58 are in different stages of construction and the remaining six are awaiting the formalisation of a financing agreement with the IHRU.
The President of the Republic reiterated this Tuesday that housing is one of his “main concerns”. After several days of silence, while protests were taking place in Lisbon and Porto, António José Seguro renewed the call for the Government and political parties to find “concrete and lasting solutions, which go beyond parliamentary terms”. At the closing session...
The European Investment Bank will lend 400 million euros to the Lisbon Metro to help finance the expansion of the network, announced the institution's president, Nadia Calvino, this Tuesday. At an event marking 50 years of the bank's activity in Portugal, the official also revealed that 300 million would be made available...
The former governor proposes a mandatory quota for affordable homes and a fast-track process for licensing. On his CNN Portugal programme, he also argued that the new airport should drive residential construction, but considers the Alcochete location a strategic error.
Seven developers were authorized by the executive led by Pedro Duarte to pay 1.39 million euros instead of providing affordable housing in Porto. The socialist Manuel Pizarro considers the decision “manifestly illegal”. The municipality rejects the accusations but commits to proposing a revocation if, following a meeting with the opposition, the PS maintains that it is possible to secure houses with affordable rents.
The Mayor of Porto admitted this Monday that he may revoke the seven resolutions regarding inclusive zoning, approved at the last executive meeting, which allow real estate developers to pay financial compensation instead of providing housing for affordable rent. The municipality will revise the regulation, proposing to require hotels and local accommodation units to provide housing.
Porto City Council wants to meet with the opposition to debate the resolution that exchanged 40 affordable housing units for financial compensation of €420/m², which is well below market value.
The replacement of affordable housing with financial compensation in seven Porto Baixa developments has led the PS to demand explanations from Pedro Duarte.
Mário Ferreira and the CEO of American Vintage are among the developers with the greatest benefits. Instead of providing 2,937 square metres for affordable housing, they will pay 1.23 million.
The team responsible for the 'Partnerships for Affordable Rental' has been established. The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program for the management of public buildings, approved by the Council of Ministers in September, aims to establish partnerships with the private sector to build housing on state-owned land or rehabilitate state-owned buildings, making them available for...
Against a backdrop of mounting protests over Portugal’s housing crisis, Lagoa Council has approved a planning change which could pave the way for 520 affordable homes in the municipality, as The post Algarve’s Lagoa clears way for 520 affordable homes appeared first on Portugal Resident.
Protesters advocating for the right to housing spent a quiet night in Lisbon's Rossio square and Porto's Praça D. João I, marking a peaceful continuation of their encampment. In Porto, a small fire in a dumpster was quickly resolved by protesters, who attributed the incident to outside agitators. In Lisbon, demonstrators remain undeterred by harsh weather, stating they will only leave if their demands for affordable housing and policy changes are met. The movement is gaining traction and solidarity, with plans to formalize their proposals for local government in the coming days.
The Viana do Castelo Municipal Council will invest 8.49 million euros in the construction of 64 affordable housing units in the civil parish of Darque, which will then be sold below market prices to families with monthly incomes between 1,700 and 3,000 euros. The awarding of the contract and the draft contract...
The municipal executive approved the adjudication and draft of the contract. The project was launched in 2023 but suffered delays in the acquisition of the land. The contract will be built in the town of Darque.
Around fifty apartments intended for affordable rent are being rehabilitated in downtown Coimbra, revealed the Council today, which counts 800 applications for housing that have not yet been fully validated.
Ana Abrunhosa revealed that there are 800 people registered for housing in Coimbra, of which 500 have already been assessed and validated.
