Demand for uncovering unlawful residential properties
In a bid to address the growing housing crisis, Portugal's center-right government, established after May 2025, has called for an urgent nationwide survey to identify illegal or precarious housing across the nation. The survey is spearheaded by the Portuguese national statistics institute and involves key stakeholders such as government bodies responsible for housing policy, social housing development, and public aid regulation, housing rights groups and renters' associations, and municipal authorities.
The call for the survey came in response to recent events in Loures, where shacks built in the last three months were demolished. The survey aims to shed light on the extent of the issue and provide accurate data to inform policy decisions on social housing and rental regulations.
The government's urgency is evident as it has planned to build nearly 60,000 new social homes and simplify public aid for renters to curb the crisis. Portugal's Minister for Infrastructure and Housing, Miguel Pinto Luz, emphasized the need for coordination between municipalities, the Institute for Housing and Urban Rehabilitation (IHRU), and national authorities in carrying out the survey.
Pinto Luz stressed the immediacy of the issue during his speech at the inauguration of 16 affordable homes in Anadia. He warned that resolving the housing issue will take time and requires an increase in public and private housing supply, as well as reforming incentive systems to create positive market change.
The survey will include the identification of informal settlements and shanty towns. In Loures, authorities began dismantling 64 illegal structures in the Bairro do Talude Militar, displacing 161 people. The operation was partially halted due to a legal challenge by residents. In Amadora, demolition is planned for all 22 remaining illegal dwellings in the former Santa Filomena area, home to around 30 adults and 14 children.
Pinto Luz expressed opposition to rent controls or strict market interventions, stating that the market should function, but the state must regulate to ensure fairness. He also announced a significant public housing investment since the 1974 Carnation Revolution, exceeding the initial plan for 26,000 homes and supporting all other projects, totaling 133,000 homes identified in local housing strategies.
However, direct details on the survey's findings or timeline are not yet publicly detailed, indicating that this is an active, ongoing effort closely tied to the government's broader housing reform initiatives. The survey is a crucial step towards understanding the extent of the housing crisis in Portugal and developing effective solutions to address it.
[1] Portugal News, "Urgent survey launched to identify illegal housing in Portugal", [date], [URL] [2] Portugal News, "Portugal housing crisis: Minister calls for urgent nationwide survey", [date], [URL] [3] Portugal News, "Portugal housing prices soar by over 16% in early 2025", [date], [URL]
- The urgent nationwide survey in Portugal, initiated by the center-right government, aims to provide insights on the extent of illegal or precarious housing across the nation, which could have implications in shaping policies related to social housing, rental regulations, and finance.
- In light of the growing housing crisis, Portugal's Minister for Infrastructure and Housing, Miguel Pinto Luz, has announced a significant public housing investment, surpassing the initial plan for 26,000 homes and supporting other projects totaling 133,000 homes, demonstrating the government's commitment to the issue.
- The housing crisis in Portugal has been exacerbated by a steep rise in housing prices, as evidenced by a recent report indicating a surge of over 16% in early 2025, which highlights the need for general-news outlets to closely cover this issue and its impacts on the business and political landscape.
