The 2025 local elections are just around the corner, inviting millions of people to vote for the new municipal leaders this Sunday, October 12. One of the main priorities of the candidates for the mayoral positions in Lisbon and Porto is housing, with proposals from left to right aiming to increase the public housing stock and rehabilitate vacant properties. To help voters decide, idealista/news has prepared this article highlighting the main housing and real estate measures proposed by the parties and coalitions running for the leadership of the municipalities in the capital and the Invicta.

Lisbon: how to address the high housing prices?
“For You, Lisbon”: the right-wing coalition prioritizes housing
“Live Lisbon”: the proposals of the left-wing coalition
CDU candidacy to improve housing in Lisbon
Chega wants 4,500 new affordable rental homes in the capital
Porto: a flood of housing proposals from left to right
Porto Are Us: the right-wing proposals for the future of housing
PS Porto style focuses on moderate rents
Fazer à Porto: the independent candidate from Rui Moreira’s team
Chega wants a seat in Porto: here’s what it proposes for housing
CDU in Porto focusing on public housing and affordable rents
BE: what it proposes for Porto’s residential market
Livre with an “ambitious program” for housing in Porto

Lisbon: how to address the high housing prices?
Housing in Lisbon
Credits: Gonçalo Lopes | idealista/news
The Portuguese capital is the most populous city in the country, with 575,739 residents in 2024, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE). But it is also in Lisbon that access to housing is the most difficult, mainly because it has the highest prices for buying and renting homes in the country.

In September of this year, houses for sale in Lisbon had a median cost of €5,824 per square meter (€/m²), an increase of 2.7% compared to the previous year. Rents registered a cost of €22.5/m², reflecting an annual growth of 1.8%, according to idealista’s price index. The high price pressure has placed the capital at the bottom of the 2025 municipal competitiveness ranking in the housing category, prepared by the Mais Liberdade Institute — contrasting with the first place obtained in the overall classification.

It is in this context of worsening access to housing in Lisbon that municipal candidates’ proposals to improve the scenario have multiplied, especially through increasing public and private supply. These are the flagship housing measures presented by the main coalitions and parties running for the Lisbon City Council, currently led by Carlos Moedas (PSD) — highlighting four candidacies out of a total of nine:

“For You, Lisbon”: the right-wing coalition prioritizes housing
PSD proposals for housing in Lisbon
Carlos Moedas, current mayor of Lisbon and candidate for the PSD coalition, CDS-PP, and ILGetty Images
The current mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, was elected without an absolute majority in 2021 by the “New Times” coalition (PSD/CDS PP/MPT/PPM/Alliance). In the 2025 local elections, the civil engineer and former European Commissioner is running again, this time with a new coalition: “For You, Lisbon,” which strengthens the partnership between PSD and CDS-PP and adds IL’s support. Regarding housing, he proposes, according to his official website:

  • Construction of new housing neighborhoods: 250 hectares of city in Vale de Chelas, Quinta do Ferro, Vale de Santo António, and Casal do Pinto. The goal is to build 2,400 homes in Vale de Santo António and over 1,000 in other areas of Vale de Chelas;

  • Implement the Municipal Housing Charter and establish partnerships with the private and social sectors to promote affordable housing projects;

  • Rehabilitation of municipal neighborhoods: continuation of the “Live Better” program to rehabilitate neighborhoods such as Bairro 2 de Maio, Casalinho da Ajuda, Bairro das Olaias, Bairro do Rego, among others. 710 municipal homes are expected to be rehabilitated;

  • Strengthening rental programs: such as the Supported Rental Program aimed at low-income families and the Affordable Rent Program;

  • Incentives for cooperative housing construction on municipal land at affordable prices;

  • Promote an exceptional regime for the recovery and conversion of attics into housing spaces;

  • Supervision and combating illegal occupation of municipal housing;

  • Implement the new Local Accommodation Regulation, with enhanced supervision.

“Live Lisbon”: the proposals of the left-wing coalition
PS housing proposals
Alexandra Leitão, candidate for the Lisbon municipality for the PS, Livre, BE, and PANGetty Images
The left-wing parties, namely PS, Livre, BE, and PAN, have joined to form the “Live Lisbon” coalition, led by socialist Alexandra Leitão, a lawyer, law professor, and former Minister of State Modernization and Public Administration from 2019 to 2022. Her goal is to build “a city where living is not a privilege, but a right.”

These are the main housing and real estate proposals of the “Live Lisbon” coalition, according to PS’s official website:

  • Goal of 20% public housing in Lisbon: construction of 4,500 new municipal homes by 2029;

  • Strengthen the affordable rent program, including for the middle class;

  • Rehabilitate vacant properties for affordable housing and community spaces with a municipal fund financed by increased IMI;

  • Apply the new Municipal Master Plan, focusing on the creation of affordable and sustainable housing citywide;

  • Support housing cooperatives and establish partnerships with private entities;

  • Use municipal land for solutions such as modular homes;

  • Restrict AL (short-term rentals) only “where it makes sense” and impose a moratorium on new hotels.

CDU candidacy to improve housing in Lisbon
CDU housing proposals in Lisbon
João Ferreira, CDU candidate for LisbonCC_by-sa_2.0_by_gue-ngl
Another candidacy is CDU, a coalition of PCP and PEV, led by communist João Ferreira, who has held this position on lists since 2013 and has been elected councillor. CDU presents the following solutions to tackle Lisbon’s housing crisis, according to its official program:

  • Rehabilitate scattered heritage and build on available land through “direct construction,” such as the Municipal Affordable Rental Program (PACA) in Alto Restelo with 430 homes, or Vale de Santo António with 2,400 homes;

  • Create the municipal program for the regeneration of municipal neighborhoods: including public space requalification, building rehabilitation, and home refurbishment;

  • Create a program supporting cooperative housing in collective ownership;

  • Inclusive zoning with affordable housing quotas in new developments (target 25%);

  • Establish and expand the public housing reserve, defining clear criteria for the right of first refusal and mobilization of vacant homes;

  • Mobilize vacant or unused properties for the affordable rental market with a framework of tax incentives, including increased IMI for vacant buildings.

Chega wants 4,500 new affordable rental homes in the capital
Chega housing proposals in Lisbon
Bruno Mascarenhas, Chega candidate for LisbonCredits: Lisbon Municipal Assembly Website
Chega, aiming to enter the capital’s executive for the first time, presents municipal deputy Bruno Mascarenhas, a graduate in International Relations, as the head of the city council list. In its 2021 municipal debut, Chega did not secure mandates. Its main housing proposals in Lisbon include:

  • Build 4,500 new homes in the city, with a focus on affordable rentals. The proposal includes T2 apartments with monthly rents up to €700, targeting middle- and low-income families;

  • Transform 50% of municipal tenants who comply with rent payments into homeowners;

  • Rehabilitate vacant municipal properties;

  • Promote public-private partnerships to accelerate new housing construction;

  • Simplify licensing processes;

  • Create housing cooperatives as a viable alternative to increase affordable housing supply in the capital.

Porto: a flood of housing proposals from left to right
Housing in Porto
Freepik
With 252,687 inhabitants in 2024, Porto is the fourth most populous municipality in the country and has been attracting more families to live there (population growth of 2% per year). It is considered the “heart” of its metropolitan area and the capital of the North region.

However, like Lisbon, Porto faces worsening housing access due to rising prices. In September, the median house price for purchase in Porto was €3,826/m² (+4.3% year-on-year). Rents were €18.1/m², up 4.2%. Both values are historical highs in idealista’s series. Perhaps for this reason, Porto ranks near the bottom in the 2025 municipal competitiveness ranking in the housing category.

Much remains to be done to improve (especially affordable) housing in Porto, a major concern for candidates competing to succeed the independent Rui Moreira, who completes a three-term cycle started in 2013. These are the proposals from the main parties and coalitions to improve housing in Porto (seven of twelve candidates highlighted):

Porto Are Us: the right-wing proposals for the future of housing
PSD housing proposals in Porto
Pedro Duarte, PSD/CDS-PP/IL coalition candidateGetty Images
In the October 12 local elections, PSD, CDS-PP, and IL formed the “Porto Are Us” coalition, led by lawyer and former Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Pedro Duarte. Their housing proposals include:

  • Map all underused state and municipal land and buildings for housing, student accommodation, and young people’s housing;

  • Quadruple the number of affordable rental homes from 410 to 1,600 by the end of the term;

  • Promote build-to-rent projects based on public-private partnerships;

  • Invest in modern construction methods (modular, prefabrication);

  • Strengthen municipal incentives for affordable housing: maintain or reduce IMI and IMT for affordable housing projects and urban rehabilitation;

  • Create the “Stay in Porto” program for first-time home access, supporting rent payments for young people aged 18–35 with subsidies up to €200;

  • Consolidate “Porto Solidário,” supporting vulnerable families;

  • Requalify and rehabilitate municipal housing public spaces;

  • Regulate Local Accommodation: applying proportional limits in high-tourist areas with increased supervision.

PS Porto style focuses on moderate rents
PS housing proposals in Porto
Manuel Pizarro, PS candidate for PortoGetty Images
PS has nominated Manuel Pizarro again for Porto mayor. The doctor and former Health Minister previously ran in 2013 and 2017, finishing second each time. Housing is one of the three priorities of his campaign “Porto style,” alongside mobility and security. His proposals:

  • Expedite “Habitar Porto” program: sign a pact with all partners in the first 100 days;

  • Build 5,000 moderate-rent homes for middle-class families and youth within four years, rents depending on type, from €300 for T0 to €800 for T4. Construction planned on identified land such as Monte da Bela, Monte Pedral, Lordelo do Ouro, Avenida Nun’Álvares, Contumil;

  • Establish public-private partnership models, competitions for cooperatives, or protocols with third-sector institutions;

  • Fund the moderate-cost housing program with state participation or allocating 50% of the tourism tax and 20% of IMT;

  • Program for rehabilitating vacant homes to place them on the rental market (approx. 20,000 vacant homes in Porto);

  • Integrate Porto into the Housing Municipal Alliance by early 2026 for European financing and cooperation.

Fazer à Porto: the independent candidate from Rui Moreira’s team
2025 local elections in Porto
Filipe Araújo, independent candidate for PortoCC_by-sa_4.0_by_portoonossomovimento
The only independent candidate, from the “Fazer à Porto” movement, is current vice-mayor Filipe Araújo, an engineer in Rui Moreira’s team since 2013, now supported by PAN. His main housing proposals:

  • Increase public affordable housing stock: 1,400 homes ready, potential to rise to 2,000 medium-term;

  • Encourage public-private partnerships, build-to-rent contracts, and cooperatives to increase supply;

  • Promote shared housing between elderly and young;

  • Strengthen “Porto com Sentido” rental/sublease program;

  • Create a task force to prioritize and expedite affordable housing;

  • Shared residences for elderly (over 65), including Escola Ramalho Ortigão building;

  • Tax increase for vacant properties;

  • Maintain or enhance fiscal benefits (e.g., lower IMI) for families with permanent housing;

  • Combat illegal AL and regulate balance.

Chega wants a seat in Porto: here’s what it proposes for housing
Chega housing proposals in Porto
Miguel Corte-Real, Chega candidate for PortoCredits: Chega Facebook
Chega’s candidate for Porto mayor is Miguel Corte-Real, manager and former PSD group leader in the Municipal Assembly. Main proposals:

  • Mobilize municipal land for youth housing, student residences, service areas, and company spaces; focus on university residences in Monte Pedral and Campanhã. Immediate construction: 400 homes;

  • Remove public homes from drug traffickers;

  • Use cooperative construction models;

  • Extend supported rent to Porto middle class instead of “auctioning” public housing;

  • Strengthen Porto Solidário: triple program action, 30% of new funds directly to youth, more support for families struggling to pay rent; funded via 20% of tourism tax (~€9M increase).

CDU in Porto focusing on public housing and affordable rents
CDU housing proposals in Porto
Diana Ferreira, CDU candidate for PortoCredits: Reinaldo Rodrigues
CDU coalition (PCP-PEV) candidate Diana Ferreira, psychologist and former MP, focuses on housing rights, urban rehabilitation, and reducing tourism dependency:

  • Build 6,000 public homes with government help;

  • Rehabilitate degraded or vacant homes for housing;

  • Combat real estate speculation, particularly in rentals and rapidly rising prices, rejecting public-private partnerships;

  • Limit AL licensing (halt new licenses);

  • Respond to 3,000 Porto families in emergency housing per the Municipal Housing Charter;

  • Strengthen municipality’s relations with national entities (IHRU) to use national and European public funds for public housing.

BE: what it proposes for Porto’s residential market
BE housing proposals in Porto
Sérgio Aires, BE candidate for PortoCredits: CM Porto
BE candidate Sérgio Aires, sociologist and councillor since 2021, focuses on affordable public housing and combating real estate speculation:

  • Increase public housing stock from 10% to 15% of total homes by 2030;

  • Rehabilitate vacant properties for affordable housing;

  • Review access criteria for social housing;

  • Combat speculation: regulate rental market and limit AL licenses;

  • Promote a city with rights for all, prioritizing citizens’ rights and rejecting a “business-city” model.

Livre with an “ambitious program” for housing in Porto
Livre housing proposals in Porto
Hélder Sousa, Livre candidate for PortoCredits: partidolivre.pt
Livre candidate Hélder Sousa, cultural programmer, presents an ambitious housing program:

  • Create 30% public housing in the next 10 years (public or public-cooperative) outside the “speculative market”;

  • Establish a Municipal Housing Fund for construction and rehabilitation using municipal land and vacant properties;

  • Incentivize housing cooperatives to ensure affordable homes for middle- or low-income residents;

  • Combat building energy poverty via a new 3C Municipal Program – Home, Comfort, and Climate;

  • Provide emergency housing for homeless, domestic violence victims, and refugees through AL rentals or property conversion (e.g., Quartel do Ouro);

  • Create housing for students and the elderly;

  • Moratorium on new hotel construction and regulation of new AL proliferation.