Requests for Local Accommodation licenses increase

Since the announcement of new housing measures, there has been a significant increase in requests for licenses for Local Accommodation, especially in areas with higher urban pressure where obtaining a Local Accommodation license is expected to become more difficult. This rush for new registrations was motivated by the uncertainty surrounding the final laws that will come out for the sector, which could mean the suspension of new licenses.

Given that, when it comes into force, the new law will not have retroactive effects, requests can still be made and continue to reach municipalities until this decision is confirmed.

According to data from the National Local Accommodation Registry, it is reported that about 1,700 new registrations have been made, with Faro leading the list, followed by Lisbon and Porto. In Lisbon, requests for new licenses have quadrupled since the announcement of the new measures.

Property owners who have vacation homes, fearing that they may not be able to capitalize on the property if they need extra income in the future, decide to apply for the Local Accommodation license, meeting all the necessary requirements, even if they do not intend to capitalize on it immediately. This ends up generating several "phantom licenses," meaning accommodations that have a Local Accommodation number but are not being used as such.

The public consultation on the "Mais Habitação" plan will end on March 24th, and only then will the government's final decisions on this matter be known.


Sources: SIC NoticiasSapoTSF 


March 13, 2023


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