An official statement was made today in parliament in response to a request by CDS-PP during the detailed discussion of bills by Chega, Iniciativa Liberal, and PSD concerning the enforcement of private property protection. Luís Menezes Leitão noted that the most common issues involve tenants who do not vacate properties after the lease ends or situations related to old rents and frozen contracts.
The leader emphasized that the association has no record of violent incidents involving break-ins but highlighted “peaceful” occupations forcing property owners into lengthy court processes. He advocated for the creation of a faster judicial mechanism to reclaim properties.
The president of ALP also highlighted the impact of these situations on landlords’ confidence, stating that the current legal framework “does not adequately ensure the constitutional right to private property.” Luís Menezes Leitão stressed that procedural delays often result in landlords losing access to their properties for years, even after contract termination.
During the hearing at the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms, and Guarantees, he shared examples reported to the association, such as a tenant occupying the former home of a deceased mother or tenants causing structural damage when leaving a property. These cases, he noted, illustrate “the ease with which improper occupation situations are extended.”
In this context, Menezes Leitão advocated for the creation of a specific and expedited eviction process, recalling that in the past, a judicial eviction order “was immediately executed,” ensuring efficiency and protection for property owners. “Today, by contrast, courts are sluggish, making property recovery a lengthy and exhausting process,” he stated.
The bills under discussion by Chega, Iniciativa Liberal, and PSD align in their aim to strengthen the criminal protection of properties targeted by illegal occupation and to expedite judicial responses. The committee debate will continue in the coming weeks, including a hearing from the Portuguese Property Owners Association, which was scheduled for today but was canceled.
