The scheme consists of taking advantage of the death of family members who lived in social housing to sell houses illegally. Fear of reprisals leads to many cases not reported.
An illegal sale scheme of municipal housing is worrying the authorities of Lisbon and Loures. Nicknamed “Key sale in hand”, The phenomenon consists of the informal marketing of camarage houses, often by people who do not even reside in housing, with values that vary Between 10,000 and 20 thousand euros.
According to, in several social neighborhoods of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, individuals take advantage of the death or disease of family members who were legally inhabited in properties to Sell as houses clandestine. In some cases, buyers are still required to pay housing -associated income, although it remains in the name of third parties.
The worsening of the housing crisis has contributed to the increase of these cases, which are being accompanied by the municipalities. The Lisbon City Council, through the Gebalis Municipal Company, explains that whenever suspicious situations are signaled, diligences are fired with the support of the Municipal Police. Confirmed the illegal occupation, the Housing is unoccupied and reintegrated In the House Stock Exchange available for attribution by municipal housing programs.
The Chamber of Loures also recognizes the existence of similar accounts, although without concrete data on the extent of the problem.
Expresso found with social workers that sometimes the seller is in a situation of financial desperation, straightened with local loan sharks, seeing in the sale of the council the only solution. On other occasions, the buyer is a neighbor with interest in the property, which UNDERTAKINGincluding bullying, vandalism and sound disturbances, to force residents, often elderly or vulnerable, to abandon the house.
O fear of reprisal It prevents many victims from denouncing and hinders the action of the authorities. Still, some cases come to the knowledge of the chambers and police forces. After legal proceedings, illegitimate and informally occupied houses are recovered by municipalities and reassured to legal candidates for social housing.
