Portugal to accelerate evictions by removing court execution steps

The Portuguese government plans to speed up the eviction process by allowing a judge's decision to take effect directly, eliminating the separate enforcement action that landlords currently must initiate when a tenant refuses to vacate. The reform also proposes reducing the period of rent arrears required for eviction from three months to two months.

Tenants will still be able to request a deferral of eviction for family, health or lack of alternative housing, with the judge assessing each request. The changes were presented by Infrastructure and Housing Minister Miguel Pinto Luz after the July 9 cabinet meeting as part of a broader effort to tackle the country's housing crisis.