Thousands Return to Portugal’s Streets After Police Clear Camps Amid Rising Housing Costs

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Thousands of protesters have returned to central squares in Lisbon and Porto after police cleared protest camps and arrested 55 people during demonstrations against Portugal’s worsening housing crisis. The protesters are demanding affordable homes and opposing proposed government legislation they fear will make evictions easier and weaken rent protections.

The demonstrations intensified after police moved into the camps shortly before 6am on Tuesday, October 20. In Lisbon, officers cleared Rossio Square, where activists had pitched around 200 tents since Saturday. In Porto, protesters dismantled their tents following police instructions. The 55 people detained were later released pending court appearances. While police described the Lisbon operation as calm and proportionate, protest organisers accused officers of using excessive force.

At the centre of the protests is a proposed housing bill backed by Portugal’s centre-right government. The legislation would make it easier for landlords to evict tenants under certain circumstances and remove rent caps on new rental contracts. Supporters argue that the changes could encourage property owners to make more homes available, while opponents fear they will leave tenants more vulnerable as housing costs continue to rise. The bill has passed its first parliamentary reading.

Portugal’s housing crisis has become particularly severe in major cities, where home purchase prices have more than doubled since 2017 and rents for new leases have nearly doubled, according to Reuters. Young people and lower-income households have been especially affected, with many struggling to find housing they can afford. Protesters also point to the impact of tourism and the growing number of foreign remote workers, often called digital nomads, on demand for accommodation in popular urban areas.

The demonstrations reflect wider frustration across Europe, where rising living costs and housing shortages have fuelled public protests. In Portugal, activists have vowed to continue their campaign, with organisers reporting that more than 1,000 people gathered at each of the main protest locations after the camps were cleared. Demonstrators in Lisbon also voted to return to Rossio Square and rebuild their camp.

The renewed protests put further pressure on the Portuguese government to address housing affordability while balancing the interests of landlords and tenants. As activists prepare to continue their demonstrations, the dispute has become a broader debate over whether housing should be treated primarily as a market asset or as an essential need that people must be able to afford.