Portugal’s Minister for Infrastructure and Housing, Miguel Pinto Luz, has called for an urgent nationwide survey to identify illegal or precarious housing, including informal settlements and shanty towns.

Speaking on 18 July at the inauguration of 16 affordable homes in Anadia, the minister stressed the immediacy of the issue, citing recent events in Loures. “The shacks that were demolished were built in the last three months. This is not a historical problem; it is happening now. So this updated assessment must be carried out as a matter of urgency,” he said.

According to Pinto Luz, the responsibility for mapping these informal settlements will fall jointly to local councils, the Institute for Housing and Urban Rehabilitation (IHRU), and the central government. “We’re already undertaking this survey. It’s essential that we coordinate efforts between municipalities, the IHRU, and national authorities,” he added.

The minister also highlighted what he described as the largest public housing investment since the 1974 Carnation Revolution. “We’ve gone beyond the initial plan for 26,000 homes; we are funding all other projects, too. The 133,000 homes identified in local housing strategies will also receive support. That is nothing short of a revolution,” he stated.

However, Pinto Luz cautioned that change will take time. “This won’t be resolved in two days, or even one year. We need more public and private housing supply, and we must reform incentive systems to create positive change in the market,” he said. He ruled out rent controls or strict market interventions, stating, “We don’t believe in rent caps or artificial constraints. The market must function, but the state must regulate to ensure fairness.”

Recent demolitions in Loures and Amadora have drawn national attention. In Loures, authorities began dismantling 64 illegal structures in the Bairro do Talude Militar, displacing 161 people. The operation was partially halted after a legal challenge by residents. In Amadora, demolition is planned for all 22 remaining illegal dwellings in the former Santa Filomena area, home to around 30 adults and 14 children.