In its analysis of the housing stock between 2011 and 2021, INE concluded that existing housing shortages in Portugal accounted for 136,800 dwellings in 2021, which corresponds to 3.3% of the total number of family dwellings occupied as habitual residences (4,142,581 houses). In other words, there are families who have a home, but who continue to need other housing solutions, either because they are in overcrowded situations, or because they live in unworthy homes.

But “in Portugal, in the same year, there were 154,075 vacant dwellings for sale or rent without the need for repairs or in need of light repairs, deducted from the margin for the market to function”, highlights the INE.

Taking into account the “quantitative housing shortages, there was a margin of 17,275 accommodations immediately available for use”. This means that there are more houses on the market (without requiring work) than the accommodation needed to meet the country's existing housing shortage needs, according to a report by idealista.

This difference is even greater if we consider the total number of empty accommodation for sale and rent (348,097 in 2021). Here it appears that there is a surplus of around 211,000 houses on the market in view of housing shortages. In other words, the number of houses for sale or for rent that year not only met the needs of those who live without decent conditions but there were still houses left.