The government announced on Saturday that it will listen to the two unions, as well as tenants, owners and consumer associations, about the adjustment of rents for 2024 and the rules for contracts from before 1990.
In a statement, the Housing Ministry said meetings with tenants’ and owners’ associations, UGT, CGTP and DECO-Portuguese Consumer Protection Association are planned for September 21 and 22.
“The government wants to listen to the various stakeholders in the sector to consider the effects that the estimated inflation for next year will have on the rental market,” the ministry said.
According to August inflation figures recently released by the National Statistics Institute (INE), the value of rental prices could rise by 6.94% in 2024 if the government does not set a limit on updates, as is the case this year been.
In addition to the impact of updating the value of rental prices, the model for the limits of compensation to be granted to landlords and the rental price to be set for tenants from 2024 will also be on the agenda of the meeting between the ministry and the unions. representatives of the sector, following the measure of the Mais Habitação program regarding the non-transfer of leases signed before 1990 to the NRAU (New Urban Lease Regime).
The forecast of an update in rental prices of almost seven percent led to several political reactions, with the Prime Minister, António Costa, guaranteeing on Wednesday that the government is “evaluating” the value of the brake to be applied to rental prices, stressing that a A ‘balanced solution’ will have to be adopted.
On the same day, the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, said from Canada, where he is on an official visit, that he is confident that the measures taken by the government regarding rents “will be positive”.
During a press conference on Wednesday, BE leader Mariana Mortágua accused the government of doing nothing to limit the increase in rental prices next year and announced that it will introduce a bill limiting the increase in rental prices, both for renovations as well as for new construction. contracts in 2024.
At the end of August, the PCP also announced that it would submit a bill to limit the rent increase to 0.43%, both for current contracts and for contracts that may be extended or concluded with other tenants.
The citizens’ platform “Casa para Viver, Planeta para Habitar”, which is organizing a demonstration on September 30, also responded on Thursday by demonstrating in front of the place where the Council of Ministers met and demanding that the government take concrete measures to respond to the housing crisis .
Source: DN
