Economy Minister António Costa Silva guaranteed this Friday that the government will have “humility to calibrate the measures announced in the housing package” when it is applied, recalling the “very serious crisis” in the sector.
“When we have a very big housing crisis – and it is clear that measures have been taken -, (but) I think the government is always humble enough to recognize later whether its application works or not and whether it to calibrate and adjust these measures”declared Antonio Costa Silva.
The official, who addressed the press on the sidelines of an institutional visit to the Mercadona logistics block in Almeirim, Santarém district, noted that “the packages are intended to respond to crises”, as announced on Thursday dedicated to housing . “We have a very big housing crisis and it is clear that we now have to moderate the effects”strengthens Antonio Costa Silva.
The position comes after criticism from the sector, namely from the Portuguese Association of Real Estate Promoters and Investors, which said it was considering the government’s rental proposal to increase supply and lower rents, “an attack” on private property, eroding investor confidence. and the maintenance of the housing problem.
“I think we all believe that it is very important to protect the role of the social state, of the state that provides services, and we must also have a regulatory state, but this must be compatible with an increasingly thriving market economy , and the economics of the market, it is the role of companies that is decisive”replied Antonio Costa Silva.
For the government official, “a state and a market economy are necessary”, and it is crucial to “calibrate the interfaces” and end “a climate of some hostility that prevails towards companies, especially large companies”.
“We may have more or less state intervention in one sector or another, but what interests me as Minister of Economy and Sea is that the role of companies is safeguarded and we believe in companies, (…) that are the factors of change and wealth creation”said Antonio Costa Silva. The minister also said he expected “significant growth” in investment in Portugal in 2023.
On Thursday, the cabinet announced the measures of the ‘Programma Meer Wonen’, which provides, among other things, for making more land available for housing, encouraging construction by private individuals or tax incentives for owners to place homes on the rental market.
The new legislative package was approved by a council of ministers dedicated to the sector, with the government recognizing that affordable housing is one of today’s biggest challenges.
Measures aimed at stimulating the rental market, streamlining and stimulating construction include the end of the ‘golden’ visa, the state replacing the tenant and paying rent with three months’ default, the obligation to flat rate offered by banks on home loans or families selling homes to pay off their home loan are exempt from capital gains.
The measures of the Mais Habitação program will cost around 900 million eurosthis estimate does not include what may be the cost of renting, works to be carried out or purchases, but here including the value of the credit lines, and will be mobilized through resources from the state budget, said Finance Minister Fernando Medina.
Source: DN
