6% VAT for everyone: and what about cooperatives?
The added value of cooperatives lies in participation and community building. Equal economic benefits for everyone do not create that value. Opinion by Marta Maçães Viana.

Latest news and stories about housing policy in finance in Portugal for expats and residents.
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The added value of cooperatives lies in participation and community building. Equal economic benefits for everyone do not create that value. Opinion by Marta Maçães Viana.

The webpage provides a broad overview of current news related to Portugal, covering political developments, economic issues, and sports. Notably, Ventura denies any “misalignment” following his removal from a position at CML and a request from Matias. The government faces criticism over housing policies, with Casa para Viver issuing an open letter about the housing emergency in Belém. Politically, PS Defense Minister Carneiro criticizes the government's perceived incapacity. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is conducting open presidential visits across several cities. In sports, FC Porto continues its pursuit of the league title, and there are notable events in football and other sports. Additionally, international news includes updates on the Middle East, Brazil, and Israel, with specific references to Netanyahu and Iran. Overall, the site offers a comprehensive snapshot of Portugal's political, economic, and sporting landscape, alongside significant international updates.

The headlines from Portugal on March 13, 2026, highlight significant national and international issues. The Middle East conflict dominates the news, impacting fuel and food prices, with concerns over war-related food shortages and geopolitical tensions. Domestically, the government adopts a tougher stance, distancing itself from labor unions like UGT, amid political shifts reflected in voting intentions favoring the PS and Chega over PSD. Key events include the death of journalist Mário Zambujal, ongoing investigations into scams and trafficking, and developments in housing policies, education, and healthcare. Sports results feature victories for FC Porto and Braga, while other stories cover infrastructure projects, energy market disruptions due to Iran's war, and social issues such as mobile phone use in schools and hospital procedures. Overall, the coverage underscores Portugal's political, social, and economic challenges amid global conflicts.

The Portuguese government is set to approve tenancy law reforms this Thursday to accelerate eviction processes for non-payment, aiming to restore landlord confidence and increase the supply of habitable rental properties in major metropolitan areas.

Portuguese banking officials highlighted today the uptake of the public guarantee for youth mortgage loans, but appealed for measures to address the supply side.
In Portugal, nearly 651,000 taxpayers were exempt from the Municipal Property Tax (IMI) in 2024 due to low incomes and reduced property values. This exemption affected 650,907 taxpayers, covering over 2 million rural and urban properties. The criteria for exemption include a gross income cap of €16,398.1 and a property value limit of €71,296.4. The IMI collection for municipalities was €1,500.3 million, showing a slight decrease from the previous year. The OECD has suggested reforms to the property tax system to support the housing market.

Carlos Moedas justified the proposal, emphasising that “many councils, after June, are left with either national support or their own capital, but they do not have the capacity for such large amounts”.

The OECD recommends that Portugal lower the IMT (property transfer tax) and raise the IMI (municipal property tax), particularly for vacant homes. The recommendations come at a time when parliament approved a package of measures intended to help resolve the housing problem. We analyse the impact on the property market with economist João Duque. Listen to the podcast here.

Home News Algarve 2030 reprogramming approved Algarve 2030 reprogramming approved Brussels has validated the Algarve 2030 reprogramming, which allows the N+3 rule, defined in 2025, to be met to strengthen housing and economic diversification.

The government warns there is no single quick fix for the housing issue, indicating multiple policies and long-term measures will be needed to address supply, affordability and related challenges.

The association advocates for the creation of a national rental registry to make contract registration mandatory, combat tax evasion, increase transparency, and lower prices.

The housing package sent by the Government to parliament is “insufficient” if it does not address “past mistakes” such as the Additional IMI (AIMI) and the freezing of rents prior to 1990, says the director of the Lisbon Landlords Association (ALP). “For ALP, the 'red lines' are the Additional IMI tax and the frozen rents,” ...

Marques Mendes states that measures are needed to stimulate the rental market in housing. André Ventura accuses Mendes of being a crutch for the Government for not criticizing the rise in fuel prices and the reduction in the ISP discount.

Among the measures in the new legislative package for housing, the Government proposes a tax benefit to reduce the VAT on construction or rehabilitation of homes from the current 23% to 6% if the projects are sold or rented at 'moderate prices' within two years of the issuance of the usage license. The use ...

The new president of IHRU painted a stark picture of the weaknesses of the institute that manages a crucial part of public housing. But what do these responses reveal about the real state of housing policy in Portugal? Listen to the latest episode of Economia dia a dia, the daily podcast from Expresso.
