1. Fado Music: Lisbon is the birthplace of Fado, a unique genre of Portuguese music characterized by its expressive and melancholic themes. It is often performed in small, intimate venues throughout the city, allowing visitors to experience the soulful essence of this cultural tradition. 2. Unique Trams: The iconic yellow trams of Lisbon are not just a mode of transportation; they are a symbol of the city's charm. Tram 28 is particularly famous as it winds through the narrow streets of the historic Alfama district, offering scenic views and a glimpse into local life. 3. Bookstore of the Year: Livraria Bertrand, located in Lisbon’s Bairro Alto, is recognized by the Guinness World Records as the world's oldest operating bookstore, having opened in 1732. It has a rich history and serves as a cultural hub, hosting literary events and attracting book lovers from around the world.
Overview of Housing Prices and Ownership in Lisbon
The housing market in Lisbon has seen significant price increases in recent years. As of 2024, the average price per square meter for apartments in Lisbon is €6,617 for purchase and €21.4 for rent[3][4]. However, prices vary considerably depending on the neighborhood:
- Central areas like Santa Maria Maior and Santo António: €26-27/m² for rent
- More affordable areas like Santa Clara: €13.9/m² for rent
In terms of ownership, approximately 78.3% of residents in Portugal own their homes, while 21.7% rent[10]. The specific percentage for Lisbon may differ slightly from the national average, but it indicates a strong preference for homeownership.
Public, Social, and Cooperative Housing in Lisbon
Public and Social Housing
The Lisbon City Council (Câmara Municipal de Lisboa) is a major player in providing affordable housing:
- The municipality owns about 23,577 housing units, making it the largest landlord in the country[9].
- Approximately 8% of Lisbon's housing stock is owned by the municipality.
- Around 61,455 people (11% of the city's population) live in municipally-owned properties[9].
The city manages its social housing stock through Gebalis E.M., a municipal company responsible for managing rental contracts and maintaining the municipal housing stock[9].
Cooperative Housing
Cooperative housing is gaining renewed attention in Lisbon:
- The city has approved a new program called "Cooperativas 1ª Habitação Lisboa" to promote cooperative housing[1][2].
- The program aims to use small municipal plots of land throughout the city for cooperative housing projects[2].
- Currently, there are 5 cooperative housing projects in development, which will create about 90 housing units[2].
- The city's long-term goal is to create 500 housing units through cooperative housing initiatives[2].
City Policies and Activities for Affordable and Sustainable Housing
Lisbon has implemented several strategies to address housing affordability and sustainability:
- Municipal Housing Strategy 2019-2024 (Estratégia Local de Habitação 2019-2024)[7]
- Municipal Housing Charter 2023-2032 (Carta Municipal de Habitação de Lisboa 2023-2032)[7]
- Affordable Rent Program (Programa Renda Acessível)[8]
- Rehabilitation and repurposing of municipal properties[7]
Key initiatives include:
- Increasing the available housing stock through a municipal housing system involving public, private, and partnership projects[9].
- Improving access to existing housing through various programs and subsidies[9].
- Rehabilitating and upgrading existing housing and neighborhoods[9].
Promotion of Cooperative Housing
Lisbon is actively promoting cooperative housing through the following measures:
- Land allocation: The city is identifying small municipal plots suitable for cooperative housing projects[1][2].
- Project support: The municipality is covering the costs of architectural projects, licensing, and execution, reducing the financial burden on cooperatives and accelerating the construction process[1].
- Competitive bidding: The city is organizing competitions to allocate land with approved projects to cooperatives for 90-year leases[1][2].
- Diverse housing options: The cooperative projects include various apartment sizes (from T1 to T4) to cater to different household needs[2].
- Affordability measures: Cooperative housing units are priced based on construction costs, making them significantly more affordable than market-rate housing[2].
- Financing support: The city is negotiating with the Development Bank (Banco de Fomento) to provide financing options for cooperatives[2].
- Long-term goals: Lisbon aims to create 500 housing units through cooperative initiatives, as outlined in the Municipal Housing Charter[2].
These efforts demonstrate Lisbon's commitment to diversifying its housing options and addressing affordability issues through innovative approaches like cooperative housing. By leveraging municipal land and providing support throughout the development process, the city is creating opportunities for more residents to access stable, affordable housing in a challenging market environment.
Citations: [1] https://informacao.lisboa.pt/noticias/detalhe/lisboa-relanca-programas-de-construcao-de-habitacao-cooperativa [2] https://www.idealista.pt/news/imobiliario/habitacao/2024/09/10/65670-lisboa-quer-lancar-concurso-para-cooperativas-de-habitacao-em-setembro [3] https://www.startbeglobal.com/blog/portugal/aluguel-em-lisboa/ [4] https://www.properstar.pt/portugal/distrito-de-lisboa/preco-casas [5] https://www.properstar.pt/portugal/lisboa/preco-casas [6] https://lisboaparapessoas.pt/2024/07/12/lisboa-pessoas-mobilidade-condicionada-habitacao/ [7] https://www.lisboa.pt/temas/habitacao/estrategia [8] https://habitarlisboa.cm-lisboa.pt/ords/f?p=100%3A70%3A%3A%3A%3A%3A%3A [9] https://www.lisboa.pt/fileadmin/portal/temas/habitacao/documentos/CMHL_RELATORIO_E_MEDIDAS_consultapublica_versaoconsolidada.pdf [10] https://www.idealista.pt/news/imobiliario/habitacao/2023/04/20/57556-os-paises-com-mais-e-menos-proprietarios-de-casas-na-europa-sao