The government has proposed new measures to speed up evictions (despejos) for tenants who fail to pay rent, arguing that increasing owner confidence will help the rental market. Critics of the plan argue it repeats failed approaches from the 2012 “Cristas Law” (Lei Cristas) and fails to protect vulnerable residents. Tenants should note that the proposal was discussed in a recent Council of Ministers (Conselho de Ministros) meeting as part of a broader housing package.

The Portuguese government is proposing legislative changes to allow individual heirs to force the sale of inherited properties, a move intended to increase housing supply but which has sparked significant public and legal debate.

The government has approved new regulations to resolve undivided inheritances, aiming to boost housing supply and enhance fire prevention efforts.

The government is set to approve changes to tenancy laws (Lei do Arrendamento) this Thursday to expedite judicial decisions for non-payment of rent. The measures, led by Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Miguel Pinto Luz, aim to restore landlord confidence and bring thousands of vacant properties back to the market. Tenants should note that while the reform targets persistent non-payment, the government has stated it will include protections for vulnerable residents.

Update: New rules for undivided inheritances and evictions

The Council of Ministers (Conselho de Ministros) has approved three bills to resolve impasses in undivided inheritances (heranças indivisas) and speed up evictions for rent arrears. Minister of the Presidency (Ministro da Presidência) António Leitão Amaro explained that after two years of an inheritance being accepted, a single heir can now initiate a property sale to prevent one person from blocking the process. The government will consult Parliament next week, aiming to finalize the laws by the end of the month.

Buying real estate in Portugal involves more than just a property transaction for international families; it is a strategic decision that encompasses tax implications, succession law, and asset management.

The recent approval of the housing package has garnered support from the PSD, CDS-PP, and IL parties, focusing on two key proposals that involve legislative authorisations aimed at addressing housing issues.

The UTAO report indicates that the proposed rental deduction by the IRS will only assist 11% of tenants, as the majority of discounts are directed towards landlords, leading to a significant revenue loss exceeding 50%.

The Golden Visa program in Portugal is increasingly seen as a strategic investment tool amidst economic uncertainty in Europe. It has demonstrated that intelligent investments can lead to widespread prosperity, benefiting both investors and the local economy.

António José Seguro outlines his objectives for the upcoming presidential elections, focusing on reducing poverty, ensuring healthcare for all, and guaranteeing the right to housing.

This article discusses the conditions required to receive financial support for house reconstruction, which can amount to up to 5,000 euros without the need for an inspection. The support is intended for expenses related to permanent housing and temporary relocation, with local authorities tasked with estimating the costs.

Investigative piece on the collapse of consumer protections in Palmela where more than 120 families — including expat buyers — lost everything after developers repeatedly sold the same house, in some cases up to four times. The report highlights systemic failures: an apparently unpunished builder, gaps in property and consumer law, and a market environment that erodes buyer confidence. It argues for urgent legal reform to protect purchasers and prevent further families being defrauded.

An IGF audit of the Institute of Financial Management’s property portfolio finds that Social Security is holding 854 empty homes while Portugal faces an unprecedented housing crisis. The report criticises inefficient asset management, poor utilisation and weak oversight of the Social Security housing stock, creating lost opportunities to relieve market pressure. The findings point to a need for clearer inventory, faster reallocation or disposal procedures, and greater transparency and coordination between agencies to convert idle public housing into usable supply.

As Portugal's PRR programme reaches its final phase, many of the 1.º Direito homes remain untransferred and several architects involved in public procurement are publicly questioning the projects' costs, delivery timescales and construction quality. Concerns focus on cost inflation, contractual timelines slipping, inconsistent build standards and weaknesses in procurement oversight, raising risks for occupants and the housing market; architects urge tighter quality assurance, clearer accountability and revised procurement practices to protect beneficiaries and public investment.

Cascais City Council has exercised its right of first refusal to buy 32 plots near Quinta da Marinha for €30 million, blocking a sale the owner had negotiated with two private firms. The council approved a loan to finance the acquisition, raising issues about use of public funds to secure strategic, high-value land in one of the municipality’s most expensive areas and the implications for local planning and market dynamics.

Eight years after its launch, Portugal’s PRR-funded 1.º Direito programme has delivered 16,950 of the planned 26,000 homes. The vast majority were achieved through rehabilitation projects; only 1,568 units are newly built, underscoring a shortfall in new construction and a continued reliance on refurbishment to meet social-housing objectives.

A housing package has been approved in principle, covering a set of fiscal measures alongside a separate proposal to simplify planning permission. The combined measures are intended to stimulate the property market by altering tax/incentive settings and speeding development approvals, but key details — specific fiscal instruments, implementation timelines and regulatory safeguards — remain to be finalised. The ultimate impact will hinge on policy design, resourcing of planning authorities and market response.

The executive director of AM48 — a property developer managing over €220m in assets — says the housing package has been well received by the sector but warns that there are insufficient financial instruments to enable companies to deliver the programme. She welcomes the government's policy direction but highlights a gap in project financing that could limit implementation and investment. Without targeted credit lines, risk-sharing mechanisms or incentives for private developers, market momentum may stall despite positive policy measures. Strengthening specific financing tools and public–private cooperation is needed to translate the package into completed housing projects.

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.

Economist Vera Gouveia Barros argues that the most effective element of the Construir Portugal programme is tax relief on rentals, citing an ‘almost mechanical effect’ from a proposed 10% autonomous IRS rate for rents up to €2,300. She suggests this tax cut will directly influence rent levels and landlord behaviour, with likely quick transmission into the market. However, the package omits a dedicated room‑rental option — a gap that could limit lower‑cost housing supply and options for students, workers and expats. Barros’ analysis implies policymakers should pair fiscal incentives with targeted measures for small‑unit and shared accommodation and monitor market adjustments to avoid unintended rent inflation or supply imbalances.

The Government's housing plan, due for debate and a vote on Friday, is expected to pass after Chega signals it will abstain. Although Chega's final voting decision is not yet locked in, the party led by André Ventura intends to abstain so it can later table and negotiate amendments during the committee stage. The abstention effectively allows the bill to advance despite the Government lacking a clear majority, with potential implications for property costs, local housing policy and market regulation as the measure moves to detailed scrutiny.

During a heated parliamentary debate, Prime Minister Luís Montenegro warned that moderation in residential property prices — for both buying and renting — is inevitable after what he described as recent 'risky measures.' He framed the policy changes as drivers of a market correction, signalling likely cooling pressures on affordability and activity in Portugal’s housing market and prompting renewed scrutiny of government housing and economic policy.

A proposed measure in a housing-supply package due for a parliamentary vote this Friday would make the absence of a required licence a ground for invalidating property sales. Analytically, the change could introduce significant legal uncertainty for buyers, sellers, lenders and conveyancers, risk delaying transactions and cooling market activity unless clear transitional rules and enforcement guidance are set out. Stakeholders will be watching for details on compliance requirements, liability allocation and any safeguards to avoid unintended disruption to the housing market.

The State’s €1,550 million fund to guarantee up to 100% housing finance for young people is almost fully committed: €1,460 million (94%) has already been allocated to banks, leaving under €90 million available for future distributions. The near-exhaustion of the guarantee reduces headroom for new beneficiaries and shifts pressure onto banks and policy makers to consider whether to broaden, renew or restrict the scheme, with implications for the housing market and public finances.