Limiting rent increases

The PCP has presented a draft law that limits rent increases in new residential lease agreements to a revised coefficient of 1.02 (2%) for properties that have been rented in the previous five years.

If there has been no previous lease, the rent cannot exceed "the maximum limit of the median rent" practised in the same territorial area as published by the INE (National Institute of Statistics).

Landlord confidence

Under the pretext of restoring landlord confidence, the IL intends to revoke the freeze on rents prior to 1990, proposing a transitional regime lasting three years, during which additional charges may be applied to the annual rent update.

Until contracts are terminated, the IL parliamentary group proposes rent support for low-income tenants who are 65 years of age or older or have a disability rating of 60% or higher.

Tax rate reduction

The Chega party's bill proposes lowering the tax rate on landlords' rental income to 5%, despite the Government having legislative authorisation from Parliament to reduce it from the current 25% to 10%.

The Chega parliamentary group also presented a draft resolution recommending that the Government recover and utilise vacant state-owned properties to create "affordable housing solutions primarily intended for Portuguese citizens."

Discrimination in rent access

The PAN initiative reinforces the prohibition on discrimination in rent access for pet owners, whether in contracts or housing advertisements, and amends the Civil Code.

PAN also proposes, in a draft resolution, the creation of extraordinary, temporary rent-payment support for families affected by recent severe weather.

Restricting speculation

The Livre party wants to restrict speculation by limiting the value of rents in new housing contracts to the application of the update coefficient (2%), provided that it does not exceed the rental price limits applicable to the Affordable Housing Program by more than 30%.

The legislation also grants the Tax Authority (AT) the right to identify non-compliance.

Controlling rents

The sole BE deputy recommends that a rent control mechanism be included in new contracts.

Instead of the "moderate rent" of €2,300 per month proposed by the Government, the IHRU and the Association of Municipalities are called upon to prepare a table of maximum monthly rent values, based on the type, area, conditions, and location of the property.

The parliamentary debate on 13 March takes place one day after the Council of Ministers approved new changes to rental laws, with a view to overcoming the impasse in resolving undivided inheritances and speeding up evictions.

The government's proposals will be presented "first to the parties next week," as announced by the Minister of the Presidency, Leitão Amaro, at the end of the executive meeting.