The Portuguese government announced a package of housing reforms that would fast‑track court‑ordered evictions to be completed within two months and introduce greater flexibility for landlords in the rental market. The move, unveiled by the housing ministry under Prime Minister António Costa, arrives as rents continue to surge and vacancy rates remain low in major cities such as Lisbon and Porto.
Fast‑track eviction plan
According to state broadcaster RTP, the core of the proposal is to shorten the procedural timeline that currently allows evictions to take several months, setting a target of a two‑month completion period. The government argues that the change will help restore confidence among property owners and improve the efficiency of the judicial system.
"The government aims to complete evictions within two months," RTP reported.
Critics, including the Portuguese Union of Tenants (UNP), warn that the accelerated process could leave vulnerable families with insufficient time to secure alternative housing, potentially deepening social inequality.
Rental‑market reforms and regional contrast
Alongside the eviction overhaul, the draft legislation seeks to make the rental market more flexible by allowing shorter lease terms, simplifying contract termination procedures, and reducing the caps on rent increases. Streamlinefeed highlighted that these measures are intended to give landlords greater latitude in managing their properties, a shift from the tighter controls introduced after the 2020 pandemic‑related rent freeze.
The reforms are being positioned as a response to a housing crunch that has seen rent growth outpace wages, prompting public outcry and a rise in informal housing solutions. While Portugal pushes for these changes, neighboring Spain has experienced mass encampments of renters and homeless individuals in Madrid, a development also reported by Streamlinefeed, underscoring divergent policy approaches within the Iberian Peninsula.
The proposal will be tabled in the Assembly of the Republic in the coming weeks, with the government indicating a desire to pass the measures before the end of the year. Parliamentary debate is expected to be intense, as opposition parties and civil‑society groups prepare to challenge the perceived tilt toward landlord interests.
Housing analysts note that the effectiveness of the reforms will hinge on whether they can simultaneously address the shortage of affordable units while protecting tenant security. The timing is politically sensitive, as the centre‑left administration seeks to avoid a backlash ahead of local elections scheduled for early next year.
Should the legislation be approved, Portugal will join a handful of European nations that have recently altered eviction procedures, but the speed and breadth of the proposed changes mark a distinct departure from the more protective models favored by several of its EU counterparts.
