Portugal’s new rent rules: how old contracts could rise
Old rental contracts, signed before the New Urban Lease Regime (NRAU) came into force, are back in the spotlight under the reform put forward by the government. The package approved by the Council of Ministers aims to change the rules currently in place and separate tenants according to age and
Buying a house to rent in Portugal yields less – but the risk is lower
In the short term, attention is firmly on the rental market as a way of easing the housing access crisis in Portugal. As part of efforts to increase the supply of homes available, the Government is keen to give landlords more incentives to rent out their properties, including reducing the IRS (personal income tax) to 10% under the new tax package and speeding up eviction procedures in cases of unpaid rent.
Renting a home in Portugal is getting cheaper overall
The latest figures suggest that renting in Portugal is getting cheaper overall. After several years of sharp increases, the market is beginning to cool.
Portugal rentals 2026: tenant demand jumps 20%
The rental market in Portugal is going through a distinctive period. After a broad upward trend in prices nationwide, driven by low inventory and high demand, regional differences are now becoming clearer. Incentives to buy homes have boosted transactions overall, leading to a 2.4% drop in house rentals across the country, even in a context where available supply has fallen by 13%.
House rentals: 11% of properties leave the market in less than 24 hours
The rental market in Portugal is not uniform. Demand pressure on supply varies from city to city, influencing rent trends (there are areas where rents are falling and others where they continue to rise). There are also properties that meet demand, such as price and location, and are therefore rented more quickly. Nationally, approximately 11% of advertised rental properties were removed from the market in less than 24 hours in the first quarter of 2026, reveals an analysis by idealista, publisher of this newsletter and the leading real estate marketplace in Southern Europe.
How to rent out a property in Portugal
Portugal’s property market continues to attract international buyers, investors and second-home owners.
Lisbon among EU capitals where average rent is higher than minimum wage
The housing crisis is pushing lower-wage workers out of the centers of major European capitals, and Lisbon is among the most extreme cases. An analysis by the European Trade Union Confederation concludes that, in almost all capitals of the European Union (EU), the average rent for an apartment with up to two bedrooms exceeds the national minimum wage, forcing those who earn less to move away from the cities. Lisbon is at the top: it is the second capital where rent weighs most heavily on the minimum wage and one of those that has seen the most significant price increases in the last decade.
Short-term rentals in Portugal: rules, AL licences and legal changes
In recent years, short-term rentals in Portugal have come under real pressure, particularly in major cities where restrictions and political debate have put the sector under the spotlight. For many owners of tourist rental property, the legal uncertainty has been just as challenging as the rule
Buying a house to rent in Portugal in 2026: yields, risks and best cities
More houses are needed to help solve the housing crisis in Portugal. And, in the short term, the solution is to stimulate the rental market, something the government wants to do by reducing income tax to 10% on all contracts with moderate rents, for example. One way to increase this supply is to buy houses to rent in the country, a business that showed a gross return of 6.3% at the beginning of 2026, according to idealista, editor of this newsletter. The good news is that this type of real estate business presents less risk today.
How to terminate a rental agreement: step-by-step guide
Terminating a rental agreement in Portugal is a right of both tenants and landlords, but it requires compliance with precise legal rules, from notice periods to the correct way to communicate the intention to leave.What is a lease termination?Valid reasons for terminating the contractNotice periods
Where rent is rising and falling fastest in Portugal
Portugal’s rental market has shifted sharply over the past 12 months, with rent prices no longer moving in a single direction.
Demand for housing near Lisbon persists despite high rents
The desire to live close to Lisbon is not just apparent in the property sales market; it is equally visible in rentals. Peripheral municipalities around the capital dominate the list of the 10 most sought-after areas for renting a home in the summer of 2025.
Most expensive places to rent in Portugal this autumn
Lisbon consolidates its status as the most expensive place to rent in Portugal, with three central parishes occupying the top positions. The country's rental market set a new record in October 2025, with the national median reaching €17 per m2.
Moderate rents up to €2,300 cover more than 80% of homes in Portugal
The Portuguese government, led by Luís Montenegro, has introduced a new category called “moderate rent”. This has attracted a lot of attention because landlords who rent homes for between €400 and €2,300 per month can get tax benefits, such as a lower income tax (IRS) rate — reduced from 25% to 10%.
Where is the highest demand for rental homes in Portugal? Lisbon and Porto outside the top 50
Living near major urban centres, where rents are more affordable, continues to be the main focus of rental searches in Portugal.
The 25 cheapest municipalities to rent a home in Portugal in 2025
A quick look at the rental map of Portugal reveals clear differences in prices across the country in the second quarter of 2025. The cost of renting a home ranges from a high of €22.2 per square metre (€/m²) in Lisbon to a low of €6.8/m² in Castelo Branco.
Non-EU foreigners lead demand for housing in Portugal
From Europe or other corners of the world to Portugal. Every year, many foreigners arrive in the country with the intention of buying or renting a home, seeking to improve their quality of life or make a profitable investment.
Renting a house in Portugal: supply soars by 59% at the end of 2024
The Portuguese rental market experienced a slowdown in mid-2024, likely due to both a lack of available properties and new incentives for home purchases, such as lower interest rates or the IMT exemption for young buyers.
Discover Portugal's most expensive house for rent
Renting a house in Portugal continues to place an increasing strain on family budgets.
Demand for rent in Portugal: 32 enquiries per property listed on idealista
Although rent in Portugal has risen by 6.5% over the past year, the rental market continues to experience high demand, which is complicated by the lack of rental properties in Portugal.
Group found scamming foreigners in Porto with false leases
12 people were arrested in Greater Porto on suspicion of scamming hundreds of foreigners in a fictitious rental scheme, in which, posing as property owners, they requested a deposit that could reach 2,400 euros.