Politics · Other · 6 hrs ago
Tens of thousands protest Portugal’s housing costs
On Saturday, tens of thousands marched in more than 30 places across Portugal to protest rising housing costs.
The demonstrations were the biggest since a housing movement began weeks ago, with marches in Lisbon, Porto and other cities.
Protesters want rent limits, stronger protection from eviction and more affordable homes, and they oppose proposed changes to rental laws that could speed up evictions.
Housing has become harder to afford as prices have risen faster than incomes: Portugal’s home price-to-income measure rose 61% from 2015 to 2025, the biggest increase in the European Union.
Rents have risen 68% since 2020, while foreign buyers, investment funds, tourism and short-term rentals have added to pressure on housing.
The government has cut taxes on new construction, restricted short-term rentals and promised 145,000 homes, but says the effects will not be immediate.
President António José Seguro met some protesters and convened an advisory council to discuss the demonstrations.
Tens of thousands of people marched in more than 30 Portuguese towns and cities on November 14 to protest rising housing costs.
The demonstrations were the largest national protest since the housing movement began weeks earlier.
Protesters called for limits on rent increases, stronger tenant protections and more affordable homes.
The protests followed parliament’s approval of proposed rental-law changes that would make evictions faster.
Portugal’s housing costs have risen sharply, with rents up 68 percent since 2020, according to the government.
- Who
- Tens of thousands of protesters, including teenagers and retired people, took part.
- What
- They marched against rising housing costs and called for rent limits, stronger tenant protections and more affordable homes.
- When
- Saturday, November 14, 2026.
- Where
- More than 30 towns and cities across Portugal, including Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Portimão, Coimbra and Braga.
- Why
- Protesters oppose surging rents and housing prices, and proposed changes to rental laws that could speed up evictions.
Protesters and housing campaigners
Portuguese government
Rental costs
Protesters and housing campaigners
Protesters want ceilings on rent increases and more affordable housing.
Portuguese government
The government has lowered taxes on new construction, restricted short-term rentals and promised to build 145,000 homes.
Tenant protections
Protesters and housing campaigners
Campaigners oppose proposed changes they say could weaken protections and accelerate evictions.
Portuguese government
The government’s proposed rental-law changes aim to provide more flexibility in contracts and speed up eviction procedures.
Parliament approved the government’s proposed rental-law changes in a first reading.
Housing protests and encampments began in Lisbon and Porto, according to The Guardian.
President António José Seguro convened an advisory Council of State to discuss the protests.
The Guardian reported that protesters continued their encampments in Lisbon and Porto.
Tens of thousands marched in more than 30 towns and cities across Portugal.
- Protest locations
- More than 30 towns and cities across Portugal
- Demonstration date
- November 14, 2026
- Rental prices
- Up 68 percent since 2020, according to the government
- Home price-to-income ratio
- Rose 61 percent from 2015 to 2025, according to Eurostat
- Government housing promise
- 145,000 new homes
4 sources
Tens of thousands march in latest Portugal housing protests
Des milliers de Portugais manifestent contre la crise du logement
Thousands protest surging home prices in Portugal's biggest cities
As housing protests sweep Portugal, police and politicians here seem bent on making the crisis worse | Ana Naomi de Sousa
What people are saying
and I can’t afford a house.
for a better life, for all of us, not just the young people, all of us, because we deserve to have a home.
we have been suffering this for the last three or four years, and I have many friends and family in this situation, they had to move because they cannot afford the rent.