António Costa emphasized that it is in the hands of the municipalities to switch to forced rental of vacant properties, and whether or not to issue new permits for local housing (AL). In an interview with SIC’s Jornal da Noite, the prime minister reiterated that he was “bewildered” by the controversy that has arisen on this subject and assured that the government will not make an “insulting reading” of the existing forced tenancy law.
“After two years, a property will be considered vacant and the owner will be identified and a lease will be proposed at a value that is 30 percent above the median rent for that typology. It will be for the forced lease, which the owner can accept or refuse” “The law, which has been in force since 2006, allows municipalities to identify vacant homes in order to increase the IMI. The law provides guidance and municipalities are autonomous,” the head of government clarified.
Autarchies will have the same power over the AL. “I’ve been hearing for a month and a half that we’re going to kill Local Accommodation. We’re not going to terminate any of the licenses in place. One of the proposals we made was that in 2030 those who have credit can renew the license. And in 2030 the permits will not end if the mayors understand that the priority is the AL and not the housing of families,” he added, pointing out that these measures will not be applied to municipalities with a low population density (read more pages 8-9).
When asked if this decentralization, which was not announced in the presentation of the Mais Habitação program, would leave everything the same, Costa said that it will be the municipalities that will decide on the balance they want between AL and family housing. “AL has played a very important role, but we must reduce this pressure from houses going to AL until there is a new equilibrium in housing in the country, António Costa emphasizes.
Source: DN
