3 days ago
Portugal Advances Eviction Reform as Spain Blocks Evictions
Portugal’s parliament is considering a law that would make it easier for landlords to evict tenants.
The law was approved in an initial vote, but it still needs to pass the final vote.
It would allow eviction after two months of unpaid rent instead of three.
It would also affect tenants who repeatedly pay more than eight days late.
The plan would remove a 2% limit on some rent increases.
Portugal’s government says the changes could encourage owners to rent out empty homes.
Tenant groups say the plan would make housing more expensive and worsen the crisis.
Spain has chosen a different approach by banning evictions of vulnerable tenants until 2030.
Portugal’s parliament approved a rental-market overhaul in its first reading on Sept. 30.
The proposal would shorten the rent-arrears threshold for eviction from three months to two.
Landlords could also evict tenants who repeatedly pay more than eight days late.
The reform would end this year’s 2% rent-increase cap for properties rented within the previous five years.
Spain’s government moved in the opposite direction, banning evictions of vulnerable tenants until 2030.
- Who
- Portugal’s parliament, the centre-right government, landlords, tenants’ groups and the Chega party are involved; Spain’s leftist government announced the contrasting eviction ban.
- What
- Portugal approved the first reading of a bill to speed up evictions and end rent controls on some new leases.
- Where
- Portugal, with the comparison focused on neighbouring Spain.
- When
- The Portuguese vote took place on Sept. 30; Spain announced its eviction ban on the preceding Tuesday.
- Why
- The Portuguese government says legal uncertainty has left more than 250,000 homes empty, while critics say the reform would raise rents and worsen housing affordability.
Government and landlord-focused arguments
Tenants and left-wing opposition
Effect on housing supply
Government and landlord-focused arguments
Portugal’s government says legal uncertainty discourages owners from renting out more than 250,000 empty homes, so easier evictions could encourage landlords to put homes on the market.
Tenants and left-wing opposition
Tenants’ groups argue the reform would deepen the housing crisis rather than solve it.
Impact on rents
Government and landlord-focused arguments
Supporters present ending rent controls on some new leases as part of a broader effort to increase rental supply.
Tenants and left-wing opposition
The Lisbon Tenants’ Association says the changes would favor landlords and lead to higher rents.
Eviction rules
Government and landlord-focused arguments
The government proposes faster evictions, including after two months of arrears or repeated payments more than eight days late.
Tenants and left-wing opposition
Tenant representatives call the faster-eviction plan opportunistic and say cases involving tenants who default are negligible.
Political response
Government and landlord-focused arguments
Chega abstained from the first reading and said it wants to modify provisions to create a more balanced solution.
Tenants and left-wing opposition
All left-wing parties voted against the reform, while tenants’ associations strongly criticized it.
Key facts
- Portuguese vote
- First-reading approval in parliament
- Rent arrears threshold
- Would fall from three months to two months
- Late payments
- Repeated payments more than eight days late could become grounds for eviction
- Rent increases
- The 2% cap would end this year for properties rented within the previous five years
- Empty homes
- The government says more than 250,000 homes are empty
- Rental housing
- Portugal has around 1 million rented homes
- Spanish measure
- Evictions of vulnerable tenants were banned until 2030
Quotes
Antonio Machado
Head of the Lisbon Tenants’ Association
“This reform proposal is sheer savagery”
theprint.in
Sources
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