Portugal's housing shortage prompts municipal reforms and criticism over gold‑visa impact

The Moita municipal council held a meeting with the Institute of Housing and Urban Rehabilitation to explore the transfer of vacant institute-owned houses into the city’s public housing stock. The municipality aims to rehabilitate the properties and make them available to families struggling to find affordable homes, positioning the plan as a long‑term strategy to boost the supply of decent public housing.

Critics argue that national policies, especially the Golden Visa scheme, have driven up house prices by attracting foreign buyers with investments of at least €1 million. They also condemn recent rent‑law reforms endorsed by regional president Miguel Albuquerque, which facilitate administrative evictions of delinquent tenants but do not address the underlying affordability crisis. The commentators warn that the combination of inflated prices and limited social‑housing options could leave many low‑income residents without viable accommodation.

Both perspectives highlight the challenge of balancing public‑housing expansion with broader market pressures in Portugal.