House draw canceled when 130 families already had their own home

The Institute canceled two bids for the Rent to Sublease program. Some families warn that the case could go to court.

The program Rent to Subleaseunder the responsibility of the Institute of Housing and Urban Rehabilitation (IHRU), is a affordable homes draw.

The IHRU keeps the houses and then rents them to a lowest priceto families with economic income below 40,000 euros per year.

There is then a draw and the candidates most in need are chosen to keep their homes – with priority given to young people, single-parent families and income drops of 20% compared to the previous quarter.

A income is not fixed: depends on the house and family. But it can never be greater than 35% of the income of the family in question. The contracts are valid for five years.

But the last two contests of the Arrendar para Subarrendar program were cancelled. This when 130 families had already received confirmation that they would have a house.

The explains that, on the 5th of November, the families received confirmation of the house and an indication of the income and address by email.

However, three days later, the IHRU canceled the contest. Due to “computer problems that generated nonconformities in the results of the draw, with the existence of admitted applications that were not drawn”.

The families stayed frustrated, doubt this justification and threaten to take the case to the Justice, if the original results are not recovered.

“This was a joke with people’s lives. The IRHU caused psychological tragedies”, alleges an injured party, on the Portal da Queixa.

The new draws do not yet have a date. They will be carried out “as soon as the technical IT problems are resolved”, announces the IRHU.