Latest news and stories about housing support in government in Portugal for expats and residents.
The government has rejected claims of discrimination against Portuguese citizens living abroad regarding access to property reconstruction funds. The Ministry clarified that support is available for primary residences but excludes second homes (segunda habitação). Property owners residing abroad should note that these subsidies are restricted to permanent dwellings and do not apply to holiday homes in Portugal.
Leiria has completed the analysis of 10,807 applications for storm damage recovery, with 7,694 approved and 2,731 rejected, as the municipality continues to address the aftermath of Storm Kristin.
The deadline for housing support applications for homes damaged by Storm Kristin concludes today, with the government pledging to finalize all financial aid processes by June 30th despite significant backlogs in processing.
Municipal leaders have pushed back against Minister Castro Almeida's accusations that local councils are responsible for delays in housing reconstruction support, arguing that the government failed to provide necessary resources and shifted the administrative burden onto them without consultation.
Soraia Franco Leite from Deco Proteste clarifies that the moratorium is a suspension of payment rather than debt forgiveness. She emphasizes the need for caution in applying the government's exceptional measures following the disaster, which have raised questions about moratoriums and tax obligations. Official clarifications are necessary, particularly concerning insurance activation and housing recovery support.
The support of up to 10,000 euros proved insufficient for many victims, who still have unrepaired roofs as winter approaches.
PRESS REVIEW | The measure is included in the new regulation for the allocation of higher education scholarships, published on Tuesday in the Diário da República.
On Thursday, the Government approved a decree-law in the Council of Ministers creating the Emergency Housing Fund (FEH), a new public instrument designed to assist individuals and families who lose their homes due to an inability to pay rent or as victims of domestic violence. The creation of this fund is associated with...
There are reports of months-long waits for the payment of the Municipal Affordable Rent Subsidy. The local authority blames 'technical issues'. There are also complaints regarding the amounts awarded this year.
IHRU informed that previously submitted applications will automatically transition to the new platform.
About half of the 35,908 applications for support to recover homes affected by the storms at the beginning of the year have been processed by the Regional Coordination and Development Commissions (CCDR), with a total of 52.76 million euros approved.
About half of the 35,908 applications for support to recover homes affected by the storms at the beginning of the year have been processed by the Regional Coordination and Development Commissions (CCDR), with a total of 52.76 million euros approved. According to data from the Government's platform, the various CCDRs have processed 18,279 applications (51%), of which...
The government will extend the application period for financial aid intended for the reconstruction of homes.
The government is extending the deadline for validating and granting financial support for the reconstruction of homes damaged by bad weather earlier this year. Minister of Economy Manuel Castro Almeida acknowledged that the initial June 30 target is unattainable due to a high volume of pending applications in the Central region, specifically in Leiria and Marinha Grande. With over 14,000 applications in these two municipalities alone, local authorities and the CCDR Centro are under significant administrative pressure. Castro Almeida stated that the priority is ensuring homes are repaired and families receive support, rather than strictly adhering to the original calendar, noting that the review process will continue into July if necessary.
It was an indicative date. If it has to go beyond July, it means it was not possible to do it before, said the Minister of Economy.
The information was provided by the Minister of Economy following news that the municipalities of Marinha Grande and Leiria will not be able to complete the analysis of over 14,000 applications within the deadline.
The responsibility for the potential delay in support does not lie with the municipal councils, argues the Minister for Territorial Cohesion, who highlights the amount of additional work the municipalities are facing.
The Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion said today that about 40% of the processes for support for the recovery of homes affected by the storms have been resolved, with 9,237 applications already paid.
The Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion stated that 9,237 applications have already been paid.
Almada, Cascais, Loures, and Vila Franca de Xira state they only managed to access the platform where applications are submitted in the last few days, and Loures claims it cannot access it at all. The CCDR guarantees widespread access.
Three months after the storm Kristin, the Ferreira do Zêzere City Council has completed the entire validation process for applications and reports the figures: out of 10,143 applications submitted, 1,777 have been analysed by the local authority, 906 are in the payment phase, and 242 have already received financial support. The municipality has exceeded 10,000 requests for assistance.
Between 150 and 200 applications are receiving support every day for the reconstruction of homes damaged by the severe weather that affected the central region of the country.
Almost 36,000 applications for reconstruction support were received, of which 10,000 had been analysed by this Tuesday.
The Government has received around 35,900 applications for support to reconstruct homes in areas affected by bad weather this year, amounting to 210 million euros, the Ministry of Territorial Cohesion reported today.
Councilman Ricardo Santos considered the number of paid applications to be “manifestly low.” He added that “more than five thousand [applications] have already been processed” and some of them have been inspected.
Out of a total of 9,227 applications for support to reconstruct homes damaged by bad weather in the municipality of Leiria, 179 have been paid, the City Council announced today, the day the deadline for submission ends.
The Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion has committed to completing the financial support processes for homes affected by Storm Kristin by 30 June.
The Government aims to complete the allocation of support for homes damaged by storm Kristin by June 30, but only 3,200 of the 30,000 applications had been decided by the end of March, despite 250 million euros being available.
The deadline for submitting applications for support to rebuild primary and permanent residences affected by the bad weather that hit Portugal in January and February ends this Tuesday, the 7th. The deadline was set in an order by the Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion, Manuel Castro Almeida, published in the Diário da República on March 30th. In statements made at the end of that month, the minister committed to concluding the financial support processes for homes affected by Storm Kristin by June 30th. While aiming to accelerate the process, he acknowledged that funds are taking time to arrive. Of the 30,000 applications submitted two months after Storm Kristin, only 3,200 cases had been decided—just over 10%—with four million euros paid out. Castro Almeida noted that 250 million euros are available through the Regional Coordination and Development Commissions for the Centre and Lisbon and Tagus Valley regions. At least 19 people died following the passage of storms Kristin, Leonardo, and Marta in late January and early February, with hundreds more injured or displaced. The storms caused widespread destruction to homes, businesses, and infrastructure, resulting in billions of euros in damages, with the Centre, Lisbon and Tagus Valley, and Alentejo regions being the most affected.
