André Ventura Proposes Sanctions on the State and a Vacant Property Registry to Address Housing Crisis
On Monday, Chega party leader André Ventura stated that a robust response to Portugal's housing crisis must include the application of penalties, the creation of a “registry of vacant properties,” and a reduction of the Value Added Tax (VAT) on construction. Ventura’s remarks were a reaction to recent declarations on housing made by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro at the PSD party’s Summer University event.
The Prime Minister had proposed establishing a deadline for public entities to provide a clear justification for any assets they hold that are not currently in use. Ventura questioned the efficacy of this measure without more foundational data, asking, “What use will we make of them if we don't even have a registry of vacant properties?”
While the Chega leader concurred with the Prime Minister on the necessity of identifying the number of vacant properties, he also directed criticism at municipal governments of all major political parties. “How many of these empty, degraded, and abandoned properties belong to municipalities led by the PSD, the PS, and the CDU?” Ventura questioned, implying that ineffective local policies are a significant part of the problem.
To resolve the issue, Ventura advocated for a series of measures beyond just a property registry. He proposed that a comprehensive survey of unused public buildings be conducted. Following the survey, a strict deadline would be imposed for these properties to be utilized. If a municipality fails to find a solution by the deadline, the property would be transferred to the central state’s control.
Ventura further explained that if the state, after taking control of the property, also fails to make it inhabited, the state itself should be penalized. This introduces a mechanism of accountability for all levels of government. The final component of his proposal addresses the cost of building new housing. He pointed to Portugal’s 23% VAT on construction as an “evident disparity” when compared to other European nations such as Italy, and he called for its reduction to spur development.
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