The measure, which has been criticised heavily, was approved with the PS voting in favour, BE and PCP abstaining and PSD and IL voting against.
The proposal that the Government sent to parliament determines that the owners of houses that have been vacant for more than two years and are located outside the interior of the country have 90 days to respond after being notified to carry out works or use the property.
Unusual times, desperate measures.
By Diogo F. from Lisbon on 07 Jul 2023, 16:59
Why do these news include the votes of minor political parties and dont include the third largest party?
By Ricardo from Other on 07 Jul 2023, 22:29
This is a bad decision.
You have certain property rights as an owner and you get to exercise them any way you see fit , legally of course.
This has no effect on me, so I have no skin in the game.
A house sits empty for 2 years, for whatever reason.
Now you have to rent it at a gov't imposed price.
For how long?
What if I decide I now want to use it, I have to wait until the lease is over?
If something breaks who fixes and pays for it?
When the renter leaves, who pays for wear and tear?
What if the renter leaves the unit in poor condition?
Who is responsible for inspecting and arranging for repairs?
What if the lease is over and they don't want to leave?
Affordable housing is a problem but it must be fixed in the public sector, not the private.
By jk from Algarve on 10 Jul 2023, 18:58
If a house sits vacant for two years, the owners either don’t care, have forgotten or are waiting for capital growth. If the home is sequestered for a fixed period, fair enough, providing insurance and repairs are at the council’s cost. Here in Central Portugal, dozens of homes sit idle and deteriorate, no IMI is paid and the properties become eye sores. The scheme should be extended in to Central Portugal to stop the exodus of people and maintain the integrity of housing stock.
By Ian from Beiras on 11 Jul 2023, 06:09
Anytime a government can confiscate private property, that government is no longer serving the people. That's communism and it leads to disaster.
Why would anyone invest in such a country? Absolutely zero reason.
By Irene Almeida from Other on 21 Jul 2023, 00:19