A new bill from the Left Bloc, already submitted to parliament, foresees quotas for Alojamento Local housing for tourist rentals and wants to set a limit of 90 days a year
The intention of the Left Bloc is to limit the local rental of apartments and houses so as to mark a difference between this sort of tourism rental and other forms covered by other, existing rules.
The bill also demands that local councils can set quotas in relation to housing that is available for short-term tourism rental, taking into account the pressure on transport, health care provision, green spaces and various infrastructures.
Councils will be able to "suspend Alojamento Local licences whenever the density of local accommodation is reaching its limit, as already is happening in some parts of Lisbon and Oporto."
The Left Bloc considers that the "deregulation of local housing is creating a housing crisis that already has hit middle-income sectors of the population" and says that these changes are intended to safeguard the positive aspects of tourism and prevent local government from having to take "drastic measures against tourism, as is already happening in several cities around the world, such as Barcelona, Amsterdam and Berlin."
Comments
- some to supplement income, others to make a profit
- as a hobby, to meet people, to share a place they love, etc.
- as a way to hold onto a home that has been in the family for years.
- as a way of funding non-profit ventures
- as a way of keeping a house occupied that they don't live at full time
As a way to generate a turn over of funds.
- etc.
Guests rent
- to have more room, cooking facilities
- to have privacy
- because they don't like hotels
- because there are no decent hotels in the area
- to support a cause
- to be close to family & friends at another location
Many enjoy self-catering which gives them the option to eat what and when they like, go out to restaurants or stay in. Hotels often do not offer this flexibility.
At Peter Booker, if the home rental owner did not supply a level of service and protection, they would not receive many bookings or good reviews. It costs a tremendous amount of money to keep renters happy. From gardeners, pool people, maids, replacing linen, damaged items, tax, accountants, there is very little left over as profit. Try it yourself and see the costs.
While there are housing shortages in Lisbon and Porto, there are blocks of empty apartments in other places. The only hope of economic growth at this time is tourism, and why shouldn't the potential of those empty apartments and villas be harnessed?
Given the huge disparities, country wide rules make no sense.
Let local councils decide.
This bill by BE is at least making some attempt to resolve the difficulty. But it will be hard to control, since they have not yet found a foolproof way to get people to register their AL.