Housing crisis forces multiple families to share the same home
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.
High rents: sharing a home with strangers has become the only solution for many families in Portugal
Soaring rental costs and a shortage of affordable housing have pushed many Portuguese families to take in unrelated flatmates or move into shared accommodation as their only viable option.
"What I earn isn't enough for anything": housing crisis forces different families to share the same home
House rents per square metre rose by 4.9% in December 2025 compared with the same month in 2024 and recorded an average annual change of 5.3% over the whole of last year.
Vitória lives with her boyfriend and daughter in a home shared with another family, Gabriela shares a room with her two daughters: "Even so, I feel a little anxious"
In Lisbon, Vitória lives with her boyfriend and her daughter in a three-bedroom flat shared with another family — a mother who has two daughters. In Porto, Gabriela sleeps in the same room as her two 16-year-old daughters. There are increasing cases of families sharing homes.
Douro receives €20 million in approved investment, but funding lacking for more projects
The Douro region has secured €20 million of approved investment, but further projects are stalled or cannot go ahead because of insufficient financing.
Overnight stays in EU tourism hit record in 2025. Portugal among countries with lowest growth
Overnight stays in tourist accommodation in the European Union (EU) set a new record in 2025, reaching 3.08 billion, which represents a 2% increase compared with the previous year, according to data released on Friday by Eurostat. Portugal ranks sixth among the countries with the lowest growth. Portugal recorded 89.6 million ...
Shuttered shopfronts and orphaned customers: why are neighbourhood cafés and restaurants closing?
Inflation has hit the hospitality sector, but for neighbourhood cafés and many restaurants the main threat is pressure from the property market. With every patisserie that closes, the neighbourhood crumbles.
House rents rose 5.3% nationwide in 2025
Official reporting says average house rents rose 5.3% in 2025, with the largest regional increase in Madeira (6.9%). The rise will matter most to tenants and those searching for rentals — renters should expect continued pressure on budgets and factor increases into housing searches and lease negotiations.
Portugal rental market expanded
Home News Portugal rental market expanded Portugal rental market expanded The rental market in Portugal has expanded rapidly over the past few years, driven by a growing need for affordable housing. However, profitability is not uniform across the country.
Association criticises Government's housing measures
The association accused the Government of being the 'main driver' of the housing crisis, arguing that the package of measures 'has not resulted in lower prices for renting or buying.'
Tenants accuse Government of being the 'main driver' of the housing crisis
The fiscal measures approved on Friday in Parliament are “unable to halt the escalating spiral of the housing crisis in Portugal, which seems unstoppable”, the Lisbon Tenants' Association (AIL) says in a statement. For the association, “the Government is once again the main driver” of the housing crisis, since the package ...
More than 700,000 homes are empty
Many are not put on the market because owners feel insecure, while many others need renovation work.
Portugal needs to build homes
Home News Portugal needs to build homes Portugal needs to build homes Portugal faces a major housing shortage, which is expected to persist for at least the next decade.
Catarina Martins says she is shocked by the housing package and would veto the bill
The presidential candidate said she will not promulgate “any bill that says a moderate income is €2,300”
Opinion: The areas surrounding Lisbon as the next frontier of luxury property
An opinion piece arguing that the areas surrounding Lisbon are becoming the next hotspot for high-end property, driven by rising city prices, demand for space and new development opportunities.
Very expensive homes
Housing prices have risen to levels that many describe as obscene, driven by a mix of constrained local supply, strong demand, low borrowing costs and investor activity. The resulting price inflation has undermined affordability, altered living choices and intensified regional disparities in property markets. Policy responses and planning changes will be central to cool inflation and expand accommodation options in affected areas.
Latest Vilamoura residential project revealed
Vilamoura has unveiled Botanica, its latest residential development, promising a rare mix of urban convenience and nature-led living in one of the Algarve’s most sought-after destinations. Officially announced this week, The post Latest Vilamoura residential project revealed appeared first on Portugal Resident.
Azores set record for passengers disembarked at airports for fourth consecutive year
The Azores recorded their highest-ever number of passengers disembarking at regional airports for the fourth year running, reflecting continued growth in visitor numbers across the islands.
Government admits the housing crisis will not be resolved 'overnight'
The Minister of Infrastructure is convinced the new package will lower house prices and encourage renting.
Housing plan is centred "on those who own property, but is relatively balanced"
Nuno Leal, co‑CEO of Doutor Finanças, says the tax measures in the government’s housing plan — due to be debated in Parliament on Friday — should help increase supply in the market. He concedes the package tends to favour property owners and landlords but considers it “relatively balanced”, noting the measures are centred on those who hold property while aiming to ease supply constraints. The assessment focuses on likely effects on rental supply and owner incentives rather than specific legislative detail.
Funchal port to have highest-ever number of cruise ship calls in 2025
The Port of Funchal is expected to receive the largest number of cruise ship calls in its history in 2025.
Parliament debates housing package amid steadily rising prices
The Portuguese Parliament is discussing a package of housing measures against a backdrop of persistently rising property and rental prices.
Parliament debates housing package amid a backdrop of steadily rising prices
House prices have risen continuously for six consecutive quarters.
