Lisbon Landlords Signal Willingness to House Students in Exchange for Government Support
The government is facing a direct call from property owners to create new fiscal incentives and public guarantees to unlock thousands of potential rental properties for students. A landmark study released by the Associação Lisbonense de Proprietários (ALP) has confirmed that landlords are prepared to enter the student rental market, provided the state addresses their primary concerns regarding financial risk and property damage. This development comes as Portugal grapples with a severe shortage of student accommodation, an issue that directly impacts the country's ability to support its higher education system and attract international talent.
The study, conducted among the association's members, lays out a clear set of conditions from property owners. The most significant incentive, according to 87% of respondents, would be the implementation of tax benefits, particularly targeting IRS (Personal Income Tax) and IMI (Municipal Property Tax). This is closely followed by a demand for state-backed guarantees against rental defaults, a measure supported by 42% of landlords. These findings send a strong signal to policymakers that a public-private partnership is not only desired but necessary to resolve the ongoing housing crisis for the nation's approximately 500,000 higher education students, who are competing for only 15,000 public beds.
Luís Menezes Leitão, president of the ALP, emphasized the critical role of private landlords in a press conference discussing the findings. "The owners are available to be part of the solution," he stated, adding, "but for that, it is fundamental that they are given fair incentives and adequate guarantees." He stressed that valuing and supporting the contribution of these property owners is an "indispensable condition to guarantee study opportunities for all young people." The association's report suggests that with the right policy framework, the private sector could rapidly increase the supply of available rooms and apartments.
While the primary motivation for landlords to consider the student market is the appeal of shorter, more flexible contracts, cited by 51% of those surveyed, the fear of property damage remains a major deterrent for 49%. The proposed state guarantees would directly address this apprehension, while tax breaks would improve the overall financial viability. The study also found a significant willingness among landlords to adhere to quality standards, with 64.4% agreeing to meet minimum habitability requirements and adopt standardized contracts if it meant accessing institutional programs with fiscal benefits. Nearly half of the respondents also showed support for a voluntary certification system for student landlords if it provided a clear path to tax advantages.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has yet to issue a formal response to the ALP's study, but sources indicate that the proposals are being reviewed as part of a broader strategy to address the national housing shortage. The pressure to act is mounting, as universities in Lisbon, Porto, and other major cities report increasing difficulties for students trying to find affordable places to live. The government's next move could determine whether private capital is mobilized to solve this public crisis, potentially creating a more stable and predictable rental market for students across the country.
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