Left Bloc Demands Halt to New Short-Term Rental Licenses in Madeira's Caniço
The Madeira branch of the Bloco de Esquerda (BE) party has publicly denounced what it calls an "alarming" housing crisis in the parish of Caniço, demanding the immediate suspension of new licenses for Alojamento Local (AL), or short-term rentals. The political party's statement followed a meeting with local residents on Sunday, where access to affordable housing was the most frequent complaint.
According to the BE, residents reported rental prices reaching around €900 for a one-bedroom (T1) apartment. The party directly attributes these high rents to the pressure exerted by the proliferation of tourist accommodations. The BE's candidacy accused some landlords of intentionally raising rents to drive out long-term tenants in order to convert the properties into more profitable short-term tourist lets.
As a primary policy response, the BE is advocating for a halt to the issuance of new AL licenses within buildings designated for collective housing. The party's stance is that "these buildings are intended for housing, not for tourism." This proposed measure aims to protect the residential character of apartment buildings and prevent further erosion of the long-term rental market.
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The party also emphasized the need for a broader strategy to address the housing shortage. This includes increasing the overall supply of housing through new construction and establishing a municipal rent-support program. This proposed subsidy would be funded by the municipal budget and allocated to families with a demonstrated financial need to help them manage the rising rental costs.
In its statement, the BE criticized the current administration of the Santa Cruz municipality, which includes Caniço, for having "done very little for housing." The party affirmed its readiness to introduce formal proposals in the Municipal and Parish Assemblies should its candidates be elected. "The Bloc... is willing to present proposals as soon as we have elected officials," the statement read, concluding with a promise to "fight for the people of Santa Cruz."
The situation in Caniço is representative of the tensions present in many of Portugal's prime tourist locations, where the economic allure of short-term rentals is increasingly at odds with the housing security of the local population. The political and regulatory response to this conflict is a key factor for property owners and investors to monitor. Understand policy impacts on your Portugal property plans at realestate-lisbon.com.