The Minister of Housing, Marina Gonçalves, pointed out that the Rent to Sublease (PAS) program, officially presented this Wednesday, is a “first step”, with the intention of becoming “more comprehensive” in the future.
At the end of the presentation of the PAS in Lisbon, Marina Gonçalves recalled that the program – through which the state will sublet private homes and other real estate agents to families with greater housing vulnerability – “has just begun” and guaranteed that ” a continuous work” to strengthen it.
“There is a great desire from across the industry to be a part of this program. I have no doubt that the program will be strengthened over time,” he said, “very pleased” with the partnerships.
Of the 320 houses listed on the PAS stock exchange, 220 are public (Social Security Financial Institute) and third sector (Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa), leaving 100 owned by private operators.
“Most” of the 320 houses are ready to move into, but there are a few, “about a hundred”, that still need “a little bit of refurbishment,” the minister said.
The PAS gives priority to young people under the age of 35, single-parent families and households with an income drop of more than 20%The Institute of Housing and Urban Rehabilitation (IHRU) drawing is expected to open in the third quarter, “September, October at the latest,” he said.
This measure will cost 28.8 million euros until 2030.
“We don’t have a maximum amount [em termos orçamentais]we have a maximum goal, which is to reach all families in need of housing,” emphasized Marina Gonçalves, recalling that there are “several tools and this is another one of them”.
The minister emphasized that the PAS is “a good example of convergence” with the private sector, while on the other hand stressing that “the State must set an example and be the structuring part of this solution”.
Under the PAS, the state will rent houses in 16 municipalities: Amadora, Cascais, Ílhavo, Lisbon, Marinha Grande, Oeiras, Portimão, Porto, Silves, Sintra, Tavira, Torres Novas, Vila do Bispo, Vila Franca de Xira, Vila Nova de Famalicao and Vila Nova de Gaia.
Based on “three priority areas of intervention” – metropolitan areas of Lisbon and Porto and municipalities in the Algarve – the minister guarantees that she will not “close” to other regions.
“These are the three areas we’ve focused on the most in our property search. (…) It’s clear that the problem of access to housing and the need for answers is prevalent across the country. close (. ..) We will expand depending on the needs and the real size of the problem,” he said.
The Arrendar para Subarrendar program is part of the cabinet’s package of measures to combat the housing crisis and aims to increase supply on the rental market.
The rent paid to the landlord has a tax break provided the contract has a term of not less than three years and the rental value meets the prices and types set out in the Affordable Lease Support Program (PAA).
Against the criticism of the Mais Habitação package, which will be approved this Wednesday in a final vote in the General Assembly of the Republic, Marina Gonçalves counters that “the proposal that will come out of parliament is not exactly the one that came out of February 16”, the date of the Council of Ministers in which the cabinet announced the measures and gave as an example the adjustment to the “concerns of the National Association of Municipalities”.
“It is a program that satisfies me with its purpose, and I have no doubt that it will have partners in all sectors, from private operators to municipalities,” he stressed, admitting that “satisfaction with the measures will depend of their effectiveness”.
Regarding the challenge of the government’s measures, the minister stressed that it is “important to” have the debate, underlining that the government was “very open and constructive” and was seeking “the balance” between “conflicting interests” .
Source: DN
