Effective enforcement and implementation are key to increasing housing supply
The revision of Portugal's Legal Framework for Urbanisation and Building (RJUE) aims to simplify urban planning procedures, shorten approval times and increase the accountability of developers and technical professionals involved in construction projects. However, as Rafael Ascenso, Founder & Partner at Porta da Frente Christie's, argues, the reform's real impact will depend on effective implementation and the enforcement of the new rules.
As prior oversight is reduced under certain procedures, municipalities will need to strengthen post-construction monitoring, while architects, engineers, developers and contractors assume greater responsibility for regulatory compliance. The new model will also require municipalities to have sufficient resources to meet statutory deadlines and external bodies, including regional development commissions and essential utility providers, to respond within the required timeframes.
The article also highlights two important challenges: clarifying the status of property-use licences and their acceptance by financial institutions, to prevent obstacles to property transfers and mortgage financing; and the potential use of arbitration to resolve planning disputes more quickly, helping unlock projects that have remained stalled for years.
The central message is clear: simplifying planning approvals is only the first step. The success of the new RJUE will depend on effective enforcement, coordination between the relevant authorities and the ability to turn faster procedures into completed developments and more properties entering the market. Only then can the reform make a meaningful contribution to increasing housing supply.
Published in Diário Imobiliário on 2 October 2026.
Read the full article here. 