Mass Demonstrations Across Portugal Demand Stronger Tenant Protections

On Saturday, coordinated protests organised by the housing platform Casa Para Viver took place in over 30 Portuguese towns and cities, including Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Portimão, Coimbra and Braga. Participants of varied ages walked behind large banners and, in Lisbon, were accompanied by drums, music and chanting, under the slogan “They will not steal our right to a home.”

Demonstrators demanded a range of measures: caps on rent increases, stronger legal protection for tenants facing eviction, limits on short‑term tourist rentals and the use of vacant properties for housing. The movement also called for the reversal of recent parliamentary changes that increase flexibility in rental contracts and accelerate eviction procedures.

Several protestors shared personal concerns. A 40‑year‑old business owner in Lisbon said she could not afford to buy a house, while another woman said the protests were “for a better life… because we deserve to have a home.” A male participant described the financial strain of paying six to seven hundred euros in rent on a thousand‑euro income, calling the situation “impossible.”

Casa Para Viver, which unites roughly 100 housing associations and grassroots groups, highlighted that Portugal’s home‑price‑to‑income ratio rose 61 percent between 2015 and 2025, the steepest increase in the EU, according to Eurostat. National statistics show property prices rose almost 20 percent from the first quarter of 2025 to the first quarter of 2026, while rental prices have climbed 68 percent since 2020.

Officials noted that foreign buyers and investment funds have contributed to the surge in real‑estate costs, attracted by Portugal’s climate and growing remote‑worker population. The protests represent the largest national demonstration since the movement began weeks ago, signalling heightened public pressure for policy action on the housing crisis.