Latest news and stories about tenant rights in Portugal for expats and residents.
In Lisbon, an elderly couple is living in a building in an advanced state of decay, lacking basic habitability and safety conditions. Part of the building has collapsed and there is no running water. The local council states that the responsibility lies with the owners.
RTP's 'A Prova dos Factos' programme has discovered six more clandestine dwellings that were allegedly rented out by Mafalda Livermore.
In 2025, 1,447 eviction orders were issued as part of eviction proceedings, representing a 44% increase compared to 2024, reports Público this Friday, citing data from the Institute for Financial Management and Justice Equipment (IGFEJ). In total, 2,562 cases had been filed at the Tenant and Landlord Desk (BAS).
The Government's new housing measures are being met with criticism by the Lisbon Tenants' Association (AIL), particularly regarding the aspect that aims to accelerate evictions due to non-payment, the vice-president told Lusa. “We are very critical of the measure and never thought it would have this scope,” stated the AIL vice-president, Luís.
Failure to pay rent is the main cause of evictions in Portugal.
The Government's new housing measures are being met with criticism by the Lisbon Tenants' Association (AIL), particularly regarding the aspect that aims to accelerate evictions due to non-payment, the vice-president told Lusa.
Landlords argue that in cases of 'obvious non-compliance' evictions should be easier and complain that legal proceedings drag on for years in court.
A man tells CMTV how he was scammed after paying a deposit to a supposed landlord for a two-bedroom apartment for 600 euros. The 'Quero Justiça' programme also spoke with lawyer Sarmento Pais, who explained that this case is a qualified fraud.
The executive wants to speed up judicial processes that allow for the eviction of tenants in cases of repeated non-compliance. There are also new rules for inheritances.
Municipal services in Porto dismantled an illegal dwelling without windows or any ventilation.
According to the Ministry of Finance, 1.4 million tenancy or subtenancy contracts have been reported to the Tax and Customs Authority (AT). But in reality the number of rented homes in the country is much higher. Jornal de Notícias estimates that there are over 2.2 million tenants whose contracts have not been declared by landlords.
Due to the constant ingress of water, the electricity cannot be used safely, leaving the house virtually without power.
A man lives with his mother and tells CMTV that at night they cannot switch on the light.
According to the owner of the establishment, the immigrants were employees of the shop that occupies the building's ground floor.
Neighbours have already complained to various authorities, but after months no one has acted and the problem persists.
Chega today justified its vote in favour of Lisbon's municipal budget for 2026 with the incorporation of measures, including allowing municipal tenants to become homeowners, with the leadership of PSD/CDS-PP/IL confirming the inclusion in the 2026-2030 plan.
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 proposals submitted by the Government to parliament “have positive effects, but are insufficient” to resolve the housing crisis, says Luís Mendes, vice-president of the Lisbon Tenants Association (AIL), in statements to the Lusa agency. "These are measures that could unlock the rental market, if landlords agree, but they are poorly structured to contain ...
