At a press conference, BE coordinator Mariana Mortágua stated that data revealed by INE indicate that “if nothing is done there will be an increase in income of around 7% in 2024”.
“Despite the Government knowing that this number would come out and that inflation figures had been pointing to a huge increase in 2024 for months, the Government did nothing”, she criticised.
The BE deputy accused the executive of witnessing “the anxiety of a part of the population that already pays very high rents and does not know what will happen in 2024”.
“The Government is not capable of doing the basics, guaranteeing that it will limit the increase in rents next year when renewing contracts and new contracts”, she lamented.
For this reason, BE will deliver a bill to parliament that limits the increase in rents “to what it was before the outbreak of inflation” (in 2022 rents could only rise by 0.43%).
“We cannot put people in Portugal through the anxiety of not knowing what will happen to their home’s rent,” she said, adding that this diploma will place limits not only on renewals but also on new contracts that come into force in 2024.
At the end of August, the PCP also announced that it would present a bill to limit the increase in rents to 0.43%, both for current contracts and for those that may be renewed or concluded with other tenants.
This is really ridiculous. What is missing is affordable housing, which under the current circumstance (government promoting immigration) could only be achieved by government/council owning housing. However, no money for that. But ample money to e.g. support Ukraine. Tough luck for the poorer Portuguese.
By Tom from Lisbon on 14 Sep 2023, 08:28
Why is not a single politician pointing the finger to the central bank. They are responsible for keeping inflation under control. Interest rates are higher due to inflation. Landlords have higher costs also. Want affordable rent? Remove crazy 28% tax on rent.
By Robert from Lisbon on 14 Sep 2023, 08:58
Record bank profits…. Record energy company profits. It wasn’t all “inflation”… it was greed. Unfortunately everyone is jumping on the greed train.
By AV from Algarve on 14 Sep 2023, 09:18
Once again the extreme far left wants something for nothing. Capping rents will limit landlords' incomes, making it less attractive to invest in rental property. That will make the housing crisis even worse, with fewer rental properties available. But don't expect BE to use common sense and reason, or understand the unintended consequences of their policies, they are driven by sheer fanaticism and hatred of the rich and successful.
By Billy Bissett from Porto on 14 Sep 2023, 10:12
I really doubt if the 28% tax on rent will be removed the rents will go down! The greedy landlords are taking the profits and they will not lower the rents. And the politics will replace this tax with another one!
By Lior from Lisbon on 14 Sep 2023, 14:27
The BE, which emerged from the Communist Party, is on the extreme left, even by Portuguese Socialist Party standards. Judging from some comments in this post, there seems to be little understanding of the role of the Central Bank in curbing inflation. Pumping more ‘free money’ into the economy for subsidized housing construction and lowering interest rates, will only cause more inflation; economics 101.
No clue, little understanding.
By Anthony Williams from Other on 14 Sep 2023, 16:53
Landlords should only be allowed to increase rent by minimal amount unless they can prove by photographic evidence that they have improved quality of dwelling above a set amount and the new rent level would need to stay in place until either new tennent or another proven quality improvement above set amount for that year.
By William Brown from Lisbon on 15 Sep 2023, 11:41
The Western world is highly indebted due to endless money printing.
The only way to escape the debt trap is hyperinflation.
We are only at the beginning of this process.
Prices for real estate and daily living are skyrocketing.
Times can get very nasty for most of us.
By Nick from Lisbon on 15 Sep 2023, 12:38
Well it does not surprise me that America's ills are spilling onto Europe. It should be obvious by now that business does not regulate itself. What the real estate market is doing is totally unsustainable. It can not continue to price gouge people on rent because you can't run an economy on homeless, starving people. Now that we have glaring evidence the intsy weentsy baby businessmen have ZERO self-control, it's time to bring regulation back. And TAXATION.
By Suzann Deborah Fulbright from USA on 18 Sep 2023, 04:48