A viral image of an invoice circulates on social media in the name of Gebalis indicating two outstanding rents worth 4.60 euros. It is alleged that a “social income of 2.30 euros is an insult to those who work every day” and the “construction of these neighborhoods” where there are “Mercedes at the door” and where “they live for free” is condemned. SIC Verifies.
From Instagram to Facebook, from Tik Tok to Twitter, an image of an invoice is circulating, in the name of Gebalis, which aims to prove that in Portugal “some get up early to pay for everything, others live for free”.
On paper from Gebalis, municipal company that manages social housing neighborhoods in Lisbon, is generating debate on social media by showing two rent arrears no total value of just 4.60 euros. In the invoice, the entity requests that the situation be regularized within 10 days.
“One social rent of 2.30 euros is an insult for those who work every day and have to support, with their taxes, the construction of these neighborhoods. With rents this high, it’s no wonder to see Mercedes on the doorstep. While some get up early to pay for everything, others live for free”, he writes on X (formerly Twitter), but the same idea is shared on other networks.
Will it be possible to have affordable rental homes with rents that don’t even reach three euros per month?
Gebalis manages Lisbon’s municipal housing stock under the Supported Lease regime, managing more than 21 thousand rental contracts. These contracts who live in a serious situationeconomic assistanceevaluating and considering the urgency of emergency situations greater social and housing needs”.
In this system, the value of the rent is calculated based on the household income.
That is, the calculation is made based on income and therefore ffamilies with income very low or in a situation of extreme economic needmay have very low income due to the effort rate applied. Still, there is a legal limit for minimum income and is higher than the 2.30 euros indicated in the publication (and which Gebalis’ letter seems to confirm).
According to the from December 19th, to “income under supported tenancy cannot be worth less than 1% of the social support index (IAS) in force at any given time“therefore, considering that the value of the a minimum income is 5.37 euros.
Even if this minimum income exists, the same It’s not permanentcano be changed if there are changes in the household’s income or if the IAS is updated.
In light of what the legislation stipulates, SIC asked Gebalis for clarification. In response, the management company indicated that the invoice that has been circulating on social media “concerns installment adjustments in accounting between the company and the resident“.
“The rent in supported rental is calculated based on the household’s income (not exceeding 23% of the corrected monthly income). However, Law No. 81/2014 establishes a minimum income, which cannot be less than 1% of the IAS in force”, explains the company. However, he emphasizes, “this value only applies in situations of non-existent or extremely low income“.
SIC verifies that it is…
The Gebalis invoice circulating on social media, showing late rent of just R$2.30 each, is true, but does not target monthly income. The municipal company clarified that the invoice concerns accounting settlements between the company and the resident. Portuguese legislation establishes that the minimum rent in supported rental cannot be less than 1% of the IAS (5.37 euros in 2026)even for families in extreme need.
