Housing Policy at Center of Presidential Debate with Calls for Rent Control and Mass Construction
Presidential candidate António Filipe advocated for state control over rental prices during a debate on Sunday, where competitor João Cotrim de Figueiredo proposed the construction of 700,000 new housing units as the solution to the nation's housing crisis. The debate, organized by the National Council of Law Students in Coimbra, highlighted the deep ideological divisions on how to address housing affordability in Portugal. The outcome of such policy debates is of critical interest to those following regulatory and legal frameworks in the property sector.
António Filipe, the candidate supported by the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), asserted that the housing issue is a matter of accessibility for the majority. "The problem is that the vast majority of people do not have the money to buy a house," he said, pointing to the high prices in cities like Lisbon. He called for "a strong public intervention," specifically in "the regulation of the rental market, which limits the speculation of rising house rents and guarantees some stability in renting." Filipe also suggested direct state investment in the construction of affordable housing and government supervision of the financial sector to limit banking fees.
Conversely, João Cotrim de Figueiredo, who is supported by the Iniciativa Liberal (IL), framed the problem as an issue of supply and demand. He stated that between 550,000 and 700,000 new homes are needed, while the current construction rate is only 20,000 units per year. He downplayed the impact of foreign buyers and the local lodging (short-term rental) market, labeling them as "irrisórios" (insignificant factors). "The foreigners who have bought houses in Portugal in the last 10 years do not amount to 100,000, and the local lodging licenses that exist in Portugal today are 92,000," Cotrim de Figueiredo stated, concluding that these figures are "a drop in the ocean" compared to the total housing stock of approximately 6.4 million units.
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The debate also addressed broader issues facing Portuguese youth, including the difficulty of accessing higher education and housing. António Filipe expressed concern over declining enrollment in higher education for the 2025/2026 academic year and the financial pressures from tuition and housing costs. João Cotrim de Figueiredo noted that these problems affect all age groups and argued for a holistic approach to retain talent within the country by addressing employment and birth rates alongside housing. He emphasized that a President of the Republic "has the role of not allowing these themes to leave the public debate."
The presidential elections are scheduled for January 18, 2026. The policy direction chosen will have profound implications for the real estate market, from rental yields to development opportunities. Investors and prospective buyers must consider these potential investment risks and policy shifts. Understand policy impacts on your Portugal property plans at realestate-lisbon.com.