“Regarding housing, we are involved in a series of initiatives, and I must say: the total support is so significant that it’s challenging for us to assign just one number,” stated Gonçalo Reis (PSD) in response to journalists’ questions during the presentation of the municipal budget proposal for Lisbon for 2026, held at the Town Hall.
Without specifying the investment amount for housing in 2026, an area into which 154 million euros (ME) from this year’s municipal budget was allocated, the deputy mayor assured that there will be “a significant focus on housing” for the upcoming year, with over 520 new and rehabilitated housing units to be completed and approximately 500 more in project stages.
“There are 4,800 units that will benefit from energy efficiency,” noted the official, mentioning that this will result from the work of the municipal company Gebalis, responsible for managing municipal neighborhoods.
Gonçalo Reis also highlighted the “Back to the Neighborhood” program, aiming to provide 700 units in historic districts throughout the term, primarily for young people, with an estimated delivery of 102 homes by 2026.
In the housing sector, the leadership PSD/CDS-PP/IL plans to develop operations in Vale de Chelas and Quinta do Ferro, where new housing units will be constructed, alongside maintaining the rental support policy, which is expected to assist 1,100 families.
Emphasizing that there are “significant investments and support across various housing fronts,” from rehabilitation to new construction, the deputy mayor revealed that Gebalis is set to have a budget of 64.9 ME in 2026, and the municipal company URB – Urban Rehabilitation Society will have 96.3 ME.
For the category of “infrastructure, housing, and heritage,” the PSD/CDS-PP/IL leadership projects a total amount of 296.7 ME for 2026, which is 19.3 ME (6.9%) more than the 277.4 ME anticipated for this year.
Asked about what supported the decision of PSD/CDS-PP/IL to double the local accommodation ratios compared to the project submitted for public consultation, from 5% to 10% in absolute containment areas and from 2.5% to 5% in relative containment, Gonçalo Reis merely remarked that it is “a balanced solution,” which “halves the current ratios,” in force since 2019, which are 20% in absolute containment and 10% in relative containment.
The amendment of the Municipal Regulation for Local Accommodation (RMAL) will be discussed and voted on today by the Municipal Assembly of Lisbon.
The PSD/CDS-PP/IL leadership in the Lisbon City Hall presented today the municipal budget proposal for 2026, valued at 1.345 ME, slightly lower than the 1.359 ME anticipated for this year, which, according to the deputy mayor, is “balanced, secure, and thoughtful.”
This is the first municipal budget of the current term (2025-2029), proposed by the new PSD/CDS-PP/IL administration, led by the re-elected Carlos Moedas (PSD), who continues to govern Lisbon without an absolute majority.
In the previous term (2021-2025), the four budgets under the PSD/CDS-PP leadership (IL was not part of the municipal executive) were approved due to the PS’s abstention, while the remaining opposition – PCP, BE, Livre, and Citizens for Lisbon (elected by the PS/Livre coalition) – voted against.
For this year’s 2025 municipal budget, the city estimated an expenditure of 1.359 ME, slightly higher than the 1.303 ME forecast for 2024.
Currently, the executive, comprising 17 members, includes eight elected from the PSD/CDS-PP/IL coalition, who are the only ones with assigned portfolios and govern without an absolute majority. In opposition are four councilors from the PS, two from Chega, one from Livre, one from BE, and one from the PCP.
