The Council of Ministers approved a reform of inheritance law aimed at speeding up the division of estates and, consequently, facilitating the placement of new properties on the market, a measure integrated into the strategy to address the housing crisis. The legislative process began in March and involved the approval of a proposal by the Government, followed by parliamentary debate and authorization by the Assembly of the Republic in July, with publication on August 17.
According to the 2021 Census, there are approximately 485,000 vacant family dwellings in Portugal, many of which are tied up in undivided inheritances. The Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, highlighted the potential of this measure to resolve the housing access problem. The changes aim to mobilize housing assets and rural land, reduce legal conflicts, and clarify responsibilities in estate administration, unblocking situations that have been stalled for decades.
The new regime creates mechanisms to accelerate estate division, including the possibility of selling properties blocked by a lack of agreement among heirs, generally after two years from the opening of succession, ensuring market-value transactions. The appointment of an executor with division powers and an inheritance arbitration regime are also foreseen.
In the transport sector, a new legal framework for public passenger transport bus terminals was approved, modernizing a regulation over 50 years old. The new rules establish greater transparency, promote competition, and reinforce neutrality duties in terminal access management, even when the same entity manages the terminal and operates transport services, requiring accounting and informational separation.
Decisions regarding access, capacity, and pricing of bus terminals can be contested with the Authority for Mobility and Transport (AMT). The new framework defines technical requirements, promotes impartial management, and creates a national electronic platform to enhance competition and improve passenger quality, safety, and comfort.
Finally, two decrees-law were approved, completing the classification of the Special Conservation Areas (ZEC) of the Serra da Estrela and Alvito/Cuba, the last ones in the Natura 2000 network. With this decision, the process of creating Portugal's 61 Special Conservation Areas is concluded, ending a legal case for non-compliance with European Union Law.
