The previous government launched the “Lease to Subarrendar” program as part of the measures to strengthen public housing, but it has faced unexpected difficulties. The Urban Housing and Rehabilitation Institute (IHRU) has already spent about 2.8 million euros in income, but most houses are still empty, generating criticism and doubts about their effectiveness.
The initiative provided for the lease of real estate for the state to subsequently subsurreate families with difficulties in accessing housing. Initially, the goal was to guarantee 350 houses, but only 290 were contracted. Of these, about 80% remain vacant, including several located in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, where the lack of accessible housing is a serious problem.
According to the DIARY OF NEWSthe state is paying, on average, 1,180 euros per month for each property, without being used. However, this is not a lack of interest: the program received 2,732 candidacies, a much higher number than the available dwellings.
The problem arose due to raffles failures, which were eventually annulled. As a consequence, only 2.3% of the subscribers effectively got a home. Despite this situation, there are no clear explanations about the reasons that prevent the occupation of other properties.
Even the owners who gave their homes to the program are dissatisfied with process management. According to, Filipe Ribeiro, one of the landlords involved, shared his frustration: “It is very frustrating, a disappointment. I didn’t see this as a business exclusively, I thought it was contributing to a solution. Of course I am paying another house, where I live with my family, and make me miss the money, but know that after a year the apartment is there empty, with so many people needing a place where to live, is very bad.”
In addition to the landlords, also anonymous sources linked to the project question the way the program was conducted. According to these, there is an obvious waste of public money, without seeing concrete results in supporting families who need housing.
Given this situation, the government has confirmed what the program is “suspended for evaluation.” The measure arises after a set of operational problems and the cancellation of sweepstakes, which prevented the effective distribution of houses.
Estamo, a public company responsible for the rental of the real estate in the program “Lease to Subarrenda”, explained that the suspension of the program was decided by IHRU even before the change of government. However, concrete solutions are not known to solve the identified problems.
The controversy surrounding this program raises questions about how housing policies are being managed and the effectiveness of public investments in the area. With the housing crisis to be aggravated, the inefficiency in the distribution of houses already acquired by the state becomes a cause for concern.
It now remains to wait for the conclusions of the government announced and realize if there will be adjustments in the program or will be definitively closed. For now, what is evident is that, despite the money spent, many families are still waiting for a housing solution.
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