Government works on inclusive solutions to increase housing supply in the Azores - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Juventude, Habitação e Emprego

The Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment stated on Wednesday that "the time for disinvestment in housing in the Azores is over." The PSD/CDS-PP/PPM coalition Government "is working on inclusive solutions" to increase housing supply in the Region and improve access for Azorean families and young people to housing at prices compatible with their income.

During a presentation session of public housing policies in the Region, held in Vila Franca do Campo, São Miguel Island, Maria João Carreiro highlighted the historic investment underway in new housing solutions financed under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, totalling €65 million for 767 housing solutions, including renovations, new construction projects and building plots. 

This is the case of the Foros Sol Mar housing development in Vila Franca do Campo, where the public tender for the allocation of 23 apartments (four one-bedroom, nine two-bedroom and ten three-bedroom) is currently underway. It will end on February 4, representing an investment of over €2.1 million.

These new apartments, like other housing built under the RRP, will be leased to families with the option to purchase. The latter can be exercised by tenants one year after signing the contract, encouraging the transition from renting to owning permanent housing. 

"Increasing the housing supply, ensuring greater accessibility and securing long-term sustainability is the priority of the Regional Government for regional housing policy. This is essential for the stability of families, maintaining people in parishes and municipalities, and for the economic and social development of the Region," stated the Regional Secretary.

Among the public policies implemented by the Regional Government for different audiences and age groups is the creation of a lease with purchase option scheme, which now includes young people and middle-class families who were previously excluded from housing support.

For 2026, the maximum income coefficients for applicants for serviced plots allocated by the Region for housing construction have been revised to include, among those eligible, a young couple with two children and a gross monthly income of €3,100 or a young couple with one child and a gross monthly income of €2,850, who were previously excluded.

Support was also provided in the form of non-repayable financial assistance for the acquisition of architectural and specialised designs, up to a maximum limit of €5,000 per beneficiary, for the construction of permanent housing.

Regarding self-build projects on building plots provided by the Region or on private land, support has been increased by 25%, allowing a young couple with two children and a gross monthly income of €2,500, for example, to benefit from support of up to €21,000, instead of the €16,500 they were entitled to under the 2026 Budget before this change.

For 2026, the 20% increase in lease incentives and 50% increase in subletting incentives have been maintained, which will bolster housing support when families need it most and promote more and better housing solutions.

The presentation of housing policies in the Azores, open to all interested parties, was attended by the Mayor of Vila Franca do Campo, Graça Melo, the Regional Director for Housing, Daniel Pavão, and the mayors of the parish councils of the municipality.