Only 18% of existing buildings in 2021 had been built in this century and only 3% in the decade between 2011 and this year, reveal data from the study “The Housing Park: Analysis and Evolution 2011-2021”, carried out by the National Institute of Statistics (INE) in collaboration with the National Civil Engineering Laboratory (LNEC).
It is a clear indicator of the slowdown in house construction in Portugal over the last two decades and the aging of the housing stock. “In 2021, the Portuguese housing stock totaled 3,573,416 buildings, of which almost half (49.8%) were built after 1980. The majority of these buildings were built between 1981 and 2000 (31.9%), with 17.9% built this century. Only 110,784 buildings were built between 2011 and 2021, representing 3.1% of the total”, says the study.
INE points out another criterion, which is the aging of the housing stock. This is the aging index, which measures the ratio between the number of buildings built until 1960 and the number of buildings built after 2011. The higher the ratio, the older the housing stock. “The lower construction dynamics in the last decade was reflected in the building aging index, which in 2021 stood at 747”, indicates INE and LNEC.
In terms of geographic distribution, the Alto Alentejo stands out as “the oldest housing stock (2,571), followed by Baixo Alentejo (2,213) and Central Alentejo (2,200). The regions of Cávado (266), Ave (322) and Península de Setúbal (419) presented the lowest aging rates.” The region of Greater Lisbon has a ratio of 921.
Regarding the dimensions of the houses, the study reveals that “the average useful area of classic family homes, occupied as a habitual residence, was, in 2021, 112.5 m². Just over half (51.9%) of classic family homes , occupied as a habitual residence, had a useful area between 60 m² and 119 m².” In any case, houses have been getting bigger.
More than two thirds of houses are owner’s residence
This analysis by INE and LNEC also allows us to know who occupies the houses in Portugal. “Of the 4,142,581 classic family dwellings of habitual residence, 2,900,093 were owner-occupied (70.0%)the remaining 1,242,488 accommodations were in lease or in other situations (30.0%)of which 88.8% were owned by individuals or private companies and by ancestors or descendants.”
In cases where the accommodation was occupied by the owners as their habitual residence, with “38.4% (1,112,875) had monthly costs for their acquisition. Considering the levels of charges per purchase, it was found that in 52.8% of accommodation the monthly fees were between 200 euros and 399 euros.”
“Regarding the classic rented family accommodations, analyzing the monthly income brackets, it was found that 61.4% of the accommodations were associated with rent values between 200 and 649 euros, with the average monthly value being income of 334 euros”, says the study.
Of the 2,900,093 dwellings occupied by owners, 38.4% (1,112,875) had monthly costs for their acquisition. Considering the levels of charges per purchase, it was found that in 52.8% of accommodation the monthly fees were between 200 euros and 399 euros.
As for housing shortages measured by overcrowded houses, analysis by INE and LNEC reveals a relative increase in the last decade between 2011 and 2021. “The proportion of overcrowded accommodation was 12.7%. Between 2011 and 2021 there was a 17.1% increase in overcrowded accommodation.” In the previous decade there had been a decrease of 20.8%.
