Liberal Initiative Party Proposes Sweeping Housing Reforms to Cut Bureaucracy and Boost Rehabilitation
The Iniciativa Liberal (IL) party has put forward a comprehensive set of priorities aimed at addressing key issues in Portugal, with a strong focus on reforming the housing sector. Party representative Ricardo Magalhães announced that a fundamental objective is to lower bureaucratic costs and significantly facilitate the property licensing process. The proposals are part of a broader platform that also includes reforms for water and sanitation management.
At the forefront of the housing policy is the proposed creation of a centralized 'Licensing Portal.' This digital platform would function with a ticket-based system, designed to clearly identify and track submission dates for planning and construction permits. According to Magalhães, the “ultimate goal is the definition of binding deadlines for municipal bureaucratic decisions,” a measure intended to combat the long and often unpredictable delays that currently plague developers and private builders across the country.
Alongside the digital portal, the IL party is calling for a thorough review and simplification of the Municipal Master Plans (PDM) and their associated technical manuals. The objective is to establish a more precise and transparent definition of technical rules, reducing ambiguity for architects and engineers and streamlining the approval process. This reform targets the complex regulatory landscape that is often cited as a major impediment to new construction and renovation projects.
A cornerstone of the party's strategy is the proposed expansion of the country's Urban Rehabilitation Areas (ARU). The IL defends extending the ARU designation, “if possible to the entire council,” which would make a range of powerful tax incentives for renovation work available on a much wider scale. These incentives are a key driver for the restoration of older buildings and are seen as crucial for increasing the housing supply in developed areas. The expansion would encourage private investment in upgrading the existing housing stock, which is considered a more sustainable alternative to new construction.
To further aid in property management and development, the party also suggests the creation of a 'Balcão Único do Prédio' (Single Property Desk). This service would be designed to help municipalities and citizens in the often complex process of identifying the precise location and boundaries of properties, a task critical for resolving disputes and clarifying land registry information.
The party's program also touches on sustainability, suggesting the widespread placement of photovoltaic panels on the roofs of municipal buildings to promote renewable energy. While the housing proposals are national in scope, their potential impact is most significant in high-pressure markets like Lisbon and Porto, where construction costs and administrative delays are most acute. The proposed reforms aim to directly address the supply-side constraints that have contributed to the sharp rise in property prices in recent years.
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