According to the current so-called urbanistic Simplex, in force since March 4, all types of fractions that are not housing can be transformed for housing purposes as long as it is previously communicated to the local authorities, which have 20 days to respond or initiate the inspection process.

This procedure no longer requires approval from the condominium and the councils will be able to later check the habitability conditions.

In response to Lusa, the Lisbon and Porto authorities confirm that, since the new licensing rules were adopted, the majority of requests to change the use of fractions such as commercial or service stores, storage rooms, and parking garages are intended for purposes of housing.

The Lisbon City Council (CML) is, however, unable to detail the exact number of the 273 cases submitted since March 4th for housing purposes.

In response to Lusa, the municipality informs that, since that date, 406 processes have been dispatched, explaining the positive balance with the resolution of “pending processes, previously submitted”.

According to the CML, “no case requiring inspection has been detected since the legislation was changed”.

Porto City Council received 51 prior communications to change the use of fractions, the majority (“around 40”) for housing purposes.

According to the municipality, four processes have already received permits, two have been extinguished and the rest are under consideration.

Even so, Porto City Council assures that it is not having any difficulties in responding to requests and adds that, in case of doubt, it has carried out inspections to “verify whether the fraction is suitable for the intended purpose”.

The Lisbon Chamber also eliminates “any difficulty in managing” the processes and guarantees that “the response deadlines are being met”, recognizing, however, “a high volume of submissions”.

The municipality adds that, to date, there have been no “tacit approvals”, granted after the deadline established for response has passed, after which the space can be used for the intended purpose.