Study reveals that housing conditions for most Portuguese are far from ideal

Only 29 per cent of Portuguese are totally satisfied with the house they live in – price and associated costs contribute to their dissatisfaction.

Housing in Portugal has undergone profound changes in the last three years, impacted by an unprecedented crisis in the sector. According to the 2021 Census, 70 per cent of classic family dwellings are occupied by owners as their habitual residence, while 22 per cent are rented out and the remaining 8 per cent are used for other purposes.

In the light of this situation, the new study by Observador Cetelem, a commercial brand of the BNP Paribas Personal Finance group, dedicated to the Energy Renovation of Housing, assessed the Portuguese perception of housing and found that only 29 per cent of the population is totally satisfied with the house they live in.

The areas of least satisfaction are the cost of additional housing expenses, with only 17 per cent of respondents fully satisfied, energy performance (17 per cent), heating mode (20 per cent) and the price of housing (30 per cent). Location is the area where total satisfaction is highest (48 per cent), followed by proximity to green spaces (42 per cent), shops and services (40 per cent).

Tenants more dissatisfied than owners

The study also revealed marked differences between the opinions of homeowners and tenants. When it comes to the family budget, a third of tenants say they have difficulties managing their housing costs, in contrast to 85 per cent of owners who feel they can manage adequately. Among the main reasons is the cost of accommodation: 91 per cent of owners feel that the price they pay is fair, although only 33 per cent are totally satisfied, while a third of tenants are dissatisfied.

Regarding the state of the property, while 34 per cent of owners are satisfied, few tenants share this opinion, with many feeling that it needs improvement. More than 30 per cent of tenants are even dissatisfied with not having the possibility of transforming the accommodation to suit their needs and 40 per cent are unhappy with not being able to make energy transformations. The dissatisfaction of tenants also exceeds a third when it comes to the impossibility of carrying out work.

Around 50 per cent of tenants want to move house

When we look to the future, around half of renters intend to move house, compared to just 17 per cent of homeowners – with 84 per cent of them pointing out that they intend to keep their home in the long term, not only because it is a heritage they want to pass on to future generations (86 per cent), but also because they consider it a safe investment (87 per cent).

Despite the differences between renters and owners, the study shows that price is, for 82 per cent of respondents, the criterion they consider most important when choosing accommodation. This is followed by factors such as location (64 per cent), whether or not work is needed (64 per cent) or the cost of living expenses (55 per cent). The majority also indicate that, when choosing a home, they also take into account the potential costs related to the energy bill (55 per cent), the size (52 per cent) and the energy class of the home (50 per cent).

Housing concerns cut across Europe

The data from the study, which surveyed citizens from eight European countries, including Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom, shows that many of these housing challenges are similar in several European countries.

Like the Portuguese, few Europeans say they are totally satisfied with their home (33 per cent), with the main reasons also being the amount they pay each month and other expenses associated with housing. On the other hand, 35 per cent of the citizens of the European countries surveyed reveal concerns and difficulties in managing their family expenses, reflecting a common and challenging reality in different countries in the current context.