Deputies looking for a house in Lisbon, an experience that “can serve as an eye-opener” to the housing crisis

A new legislature is always synonymous with new deputies in the Assembly of the Republic. And for some of these political representatives – in particular, those who are not from or did not work in Lisbon – they also have to look for a home.

Over the next few weeks, many of the new deputies will choose to stay in hotels. But, later, when Parliament is operating at full steam, the majority will look for houses to rent (and in some cases share with other colleagues on the bench).

It turns out that, taking into account the state of the housing market in Portugal, this can be a challenge. In statements to Renaissancethe testimony of Jorge Pinto, deputy of Livre, elected by the Porto constituency, attests to the problem.

After 11 years, the Livre deputy will leave Brussels. In Belgium, he leaves – on hold, through unpaid leave – a job as a European employee in the environment area. For legal purposes, the address he will present in Parliament is his parents’ house, in Amarante. “That’s where I’ll spend the time I’m not in Lisbon.”

In recent days, the experience of looking for a house in Lisbon has been confirmation of “what we all know”, the existence of “a major crisis in affordable and quality housing”, says Jorge Pinto.

The deputy tried to find a house to rent near the Assembly of the Republic, but was unable to find a T2, with the minimum conditions, for less than 1500 euros per month. And he was also surprised by a practice: landlords interviewing tenants.

In an advertisement, “they responded to me saying something like: there is already an offer, but now that person will still have to discuss it with the owner to see if they accept it or not”, he says.

To find a roof at an affordable price, Jorge turned to people he knew. The new deputy from Livre spoke to the Renaissance on Monday afternoon, before visiting two apartments – both far from Parliament.

“Deputies are certainly not the main victims of the cost of housing, but perhaps [esta experiência] It can also serve as an eye-opener for those deputies who are now arriving in Lisbon and who think that there is no housing problem. Or that they have solution proposals that are perhaps not those that are necessary given the size and severity of the problem,” he states.

During the next legislature, which begins this Tuesday with its first plenary session, Jorge Pinto has the ambition that Livre can “continue to develop the constructive work” of the last two years. “Tell people that it is possible to ask for more, have more, even demand more than the country can and should be.”

In a Parliament without a clear majority on both the left and the right, however, it will be difficult to think long-term. Or sign a contract to that effect.

For what the Renaissance found out, some of the new deputies anticipate a short legislature and are trying not to commit to lease contracts before September – the moment to start the debate on the State Budget for 2025, the first litmus test on Luís Montenegro’s path.