The consumer association DECO this Thursday presented to the Minister of Housing proposals to support tenants and owners, which Marina Gonçalves welcomed with “great openness”.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting with the minister, Luis Rodriguez, president of DECO – the Portuguese Consumer Association, said he had presented “several proposals”.
When it comes to rent increases, DECO is offering “one of two things”: direct tenant support or a standard brake that is “punctual and temporary.”
Luis Rodriguez, however, points out that it is necessary to distinguish between the types of tenants who could benefit from a possible slowdown in rent growth, arguing that this should only apply to the most vulnerable, with effort levels above 30% and above. up to IRS level six.
At the same time, it is also necessary to “distinguish” between landlords who have “different realities”, depending on whether they are individuals or legal entities.
“The vulnerability we find in tenants, we can also find in landlords,” notes Luis Rodriguez, advocating “support for landlords” to reward their “solidarity.”
According to inflation data for August recently published by the National Statistics Institute (INE), rents could rise by 6.94% in 2024 unless the government sets a cap on renewals, as it did this year.
Following this scenario, the government has called on two trade unions, as well as tenant, owner and consumer associations, to hear them today and Friday about updating 2024 rents and pre-1990 contract rules.
“The meeting went very well. We saw great openness on the part of the minister to solve people’s problems. […]whether from tenants or landlords,” described Luis Rodriguez.
The hour-long meeting also addressed the issue of pre-1990 contracts that have not yet been transferred to the New Urban Tenancy Regime, which typically covers people in vulnerable situations on very low incomes that require very high levels of effort. large on the part of the landowners.”
Now it is necessary to support landlords in order to mitigate “this imbalance” and adjust rents, the DECO president emphasized.
“The minister was very receptive. I believe there are still a number of options on the table at the moment,” he said.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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