This week, the Porto Municipal Police closed an illegal accommodation located in the historic center of the city, in an intervention that exposed a housing overcrowding scheme associated with foreign citizens in vulnerable situations. At issue was a two-story building, without an appropriate license, where monthly fees of 250 per bed were charged (8.06 euros per night in a month of 31 days), in an area with high tourist pressure.
According to the Lusa news agency, the operation took place on Rua dos Clérigos and involved the sealing of two floors of a building where a convenience store operates on the ground floor, following persistent complaints related to nighttime movements considered suspicious by the neighborhood.
Complaints, inspection and closure of the space
The action was carried out by the Inspection Division of the Porto City Council, in conjunction with the Municipal Police and with the support of the PSP, based on evidence of illegal housing use and the absence of minimum sanitary conditions.
During the operation, the mayor of Porto, Pedro Duarte, monitored the work and stated that “there was no adequate license for housing, much less for the number of people who, according to reports from the neighborhood, could be around several dozen”, describing the intervention as necessary for reasons of human dignity.
Improvised structure and rules posted in Nepali
Prefabricated structures were set up on the two now sealed floors that served as partitions, forming 19 rooms, as well as a sanitary installation adapted into a changing room, right at the entrance to the space.
The news agency adds that on one of the walls a sheet was posted in Nepali, with the title “house rules”, which read: “Anyone who doesn’t like the house can leave whenever they want”, as well as instructions on opening hours, silence, cleaning and payment of expenses.
How much they paid and who lived there
A source from the Foreigners and Border Control Unit of the Porto PSP Metropolitan Command states that each room would accommodate two people, with a charge of 250 euros per month per bed.
It is estimated that around 50 immigrants, of Nepalese, Bangladeshi and Indian nationalities, passed through the place, although at the time of sealing there were no longer any people inside, just some personal objects.
Vulnerability and social response
Pedro Duarte explained that many of the people will have left the space before the inspection, admitting that “they were probably warned about the operation”, but assured that the municipality’s social services are available to provide support whenever necessary.
“These people will be treated with the same dignity as anyone else who was in a similar circumstance”, stated the mayor, highlighting that combating these situations requires firmness, but also humanism.
Phenomenon identified throughout the metropolitan area
According to , the PSP identified throughout 2025, in the municipalities of the Porto Metropolitan Area, 56 illegal accommodation occupied by around 900 foreign citizens, with irregularities, such as overcrowding, lack of hygiene, pests and lack of contracts.
Asked about the scale of the problem in the city, Pedro Duarte said that the Chamber has a list of potential situations and added: “There is no specific area. It is spread throughout the city”, pointing out the historic center as one of the most affected areas.
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