Demonstrators across more than 30 cities demanded rent limits and better tenant protections as property prices outpace incomes.
Tens of thousands of people across more than 30 Portuguese cities and towns took to the streets on Saturday to protest surging housing costs, according to the Times of India. The demonstrators, which included everyone from teenagers to retirees, called for more affordable homes, limits on rent hikes, and stronger legal safeguards for tenants.
The protests were organised by the Casa Para Viver (A Home to Live In) platform. Participants used slogans such as "We won’t let them steal our right to housing" and chanted for lower rents and higher salaries in Lisbon.
The movement gained momentum after parliament adopted a bill intended to speed up eviction procedures for property owners. Protesters have also sought the reversal of proposed changes to rental legislation, which campaigners warned could weaken protections for tenants.
Official data highlights the scale of the crisis. Eurostat reported that Portugal saw a 61 per cent increase in the ratio of house prices to incomes between 2015 and 2025, the highest in the European Union. Additionally, the Portuguese government stated that rental costs have risen 68 per cent since 2020.
The government has introduced measures including tax cuts for new construction and a pledge to build 145,000 homes, though it noted these will take time to show results. President António José Seguro met with some demonstrators on Friday and convened the Council of State to discuss the protests.
