Is a new construction shortage fueling Portugal’s housing crisis?

Economy and Territorial Cohesion Minister Manuel Castro Almeida stated that the national housing crisis is driven primarily by a slump in private construction, which currently produces as many homes in a month as it did in a week two decades ago. While the government aims to complete 40,000 new or renovated homes by the end of 2026, this falls significantly short of the 133,000 homes municipalities have identified as necessary to meet current demand. The minister has urged mayors to accelerate the processing of private building applications and to identify more land for development to bridge this gap.

