Data from the 2021 census show that in that year there were more than 700,000 vacant dwellings in Portugal. But INE’s analysis also indicates that 13% of the houses were overcrowded and 30% without any form of heating
In 2021 there were 5.9 million family homes in Portugal, according to data from the INE (National Statistics Institute) released Wednesday based on the latest census. Of these, 723,215 were totally vacant (12.1% of the total). The majority (4.1 million) were for habitual residence and about a million for secondary residence. Of the vacant buildings, more than 15% required major repairs.
The conclusions result from the statistical office’s study with data from the 2021 census. These data marked a slowdown in the growth of the housing stock. At the time of the census (April 19, 2021), the Portuguese housing stock was composed of 3.5 million classic buildings and 5.9 million dwellings, up 0.8% and 1.7%, respectively, compared to 2011. The variation is lower than in previous decades, when it exceeded 10%.
Most of the buildings in our housing stock were built between 1981 and 2000 (31.9%) and 17.9% already after 2001. Only 110,784 buildings were built between 2011 and 2021.
Overall, for every 100 buildings built after 2011, there were 747 buildings built before 1960, and the Alto Alentejo was the region with the most aged housing stock (for every 100 buildings built after 2011 there were 2571 buildings built before 1960).
By region, the metropolitan areas of Lisbon and Porto concentrated 39.1% of the country’s lodgings.
INE also indicates that, in 2021, 12.7% of the usual dwellings were overcrowded (lacking at least one room). Madeira (23.3%), the Azores (17.4%), and the Algarve (16.9%) recorded the highest levels of overcrowding.
15% OF VACANT BUILDINGS NEEDED MAJOR REPAIRS
According to the results released this Wednesday, most buildings in Portugal did not need repairs (64.2%).
But about 1.2 million buildings (35.8% of the total) needed repairs. Of these, 21.8% needed light repairs (780,126 buildings), 9.4% needed medium repairs (335,599 buildings) and 4.6% needed deep repairs (163,101 buildings). INE does not, however, define what “deep repairs” are.
Of the total number of households, only 3.3% were in buildings in need of major repair (197,066).
Of the 723,215 vacant dwellings, 15.1% were in need of major repair (108,919). Note that a vacant dwelling is a house that is for sale, for rent, or even to be demolished, according to INE.
“Considering the classic dwellings of habitual residence, located in classic buildings in need of deep repair, 48.2% were occupied by the owner and 51.8% were occupied by tenants and other situations,” INE also indicates.
MAJORITY OF HOUSES WITHOUT HEATING
According to the census data, about 30% of the dwellings did not use any kind of heating. On the other hand, 28.4% of the dwellings used mostly mobile heating appliances (such as oil heaters), 21.7% had a fireplace, 14% had central heating, and only 5.8% had fixed appliances (such as a salamander).
