BE/Açores calls for Local Accommodation limits and more public housing

During an interpellation on the housing crisis in the Regional Assembly plenary in Horta, António Lima said housing was being taken away from Azoreans, particularly vulnerable people, workers and young people.

Lima criticised decades of public underinvestment in social housing. He said the government was putting public buildings up for sale rather than rehabilitating regional assets.

He said 10 urban buildings across several islands were listed on the Regional Government's real-estate portal, including the former Casa da Vida Associativa in Ponta Delgada. Lima said public housing represented 2.3% of the total housing stock in the Azores and cited a 16.2% overcrowding rate, the second highest in the country.

BE/Açores urged the Regional Government to set limits on Local Accommodation, rehabilitate vacant public buildings and increase the public housing stock. Lima asked whether vacant regional urban buildings could be rehabilitated and placed on the affordable rental market. He also asked whether new Local Accommodation licences could be halted in areas of high housing pressure.

The BE/Açores leader proposed a voluntary programme to move properties from tourist lodging into long-term rental, a public housing pool, updated rental support, new construction methods and a new generation of cooperativism. He also called for medium- and long-term targets to expand public housing stock.

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