As reported by 24 Notícias, citing an analysis by property platform idealista, rental listings nationwide received an average of 24 enquiries each between April and June, representing a 36 percent increase compared with the same period last year. The rise comes despite a 2.4 percent fall in average asking rents, underlining the persistent imbalance between supply and demand.

Ruben Marques, an idealista spokesperson, said the slight reduction in rents should not be interpreted as a sign of a less competitive market, and instead, the shortage of available homes means every new property placed on the market continues to attract dozens of prospective tenants.

Tenant interest

Coimbra recorded the highest annual increase in tenant interest among Portugal’s district capitals, with the average number of enquiries per listing surging by 153 percent compared with the second quarter of 2025.

Porto followed closely with growth of 146 percent, while Lisbon saw demand rise by 53 percent. Braga also registered a notable increase of 19 percent, alongside Leiria (13 percent), Santarém (11 percent), Setúbal (8 percent) and Viana do Castelo (7 percent).

Although Coimbra posted the fastest growth, Santarém experienced the greatest pressure in terms of overall demand, with each rental advertisement attracting an average of 34 enquiries. Leiria ranked second with 30 contracts per listing, followed by Évora with 29, as both Faro and Setúbal averaged 28, while Ponta Delgada reached 25. Lisbon and Porto each recorded an average of 21 contacts per advertised property.

At the opposite end of the scale, Portalegre remained the least competitive rental market, with an average of just eight enquiries per listing, followed by Vila Real with 12.

Rental housing

The figures also show that rental demand increased in nine district capitals over the past year, declined in another nine and remained unchanged in Beja and Bragança, highlighting significant regional differences across the country.

When analysed by district and island, Setúbal experienced the greatest pressure on the rental market, averaging 34 enquiries per property, while Lisbon and Santarém followed with 26 each, and the Porto district with 22.

Coimbra again stood out in the wider district analysis, recording a 99 percent increase in average enquiries per rental listing, as Porto followed with growth of 90 percent, ahead of Lisbon (36 percent), Setúbal (16 percent), and Viana do Castelo (15 percent).

Meanwhile, the sharpest declines in rental demand were registered in Portalegre, where enquiries fell by 46 percent, followed by Madeira with a 38 per cent drop and Vila Real, where it decreased by 19 percent.

The measures introduced under Portugal’s housing strategy aim to increase the supply of affordable rental accommodation, simplify planning procedures and encourage vacant properties back onto the market.

However, industry organisations and housing experts have warned that meaningful improvements are likely to depend on a substantial increase in residential construction and long-term investment in the rental sector.