When the tourist offer can give way to housing properties

Turning hotels into apartments can be one of the solutions to respond to the housing crisis that affects Portugal and not only. Although it seems like a tempting idea is not always easy to perform. Several officials from the sector heard by the sunrise admit some obstacles. “If on the one hand, those who put a hotel unit for sale intend to attract investors to continue betting on the same area, on the other, even if they are thinking of this idea, it should not be forgotten that the transformation of this room for housing requires a series of requirements, from project change, to obtain licenses and to requalification and adaptation works. That is, they face a bureaucracy process and requires an investment that can make this idea unattractive, ”they point out.

And the numbers speak for themselves. According to the official source of the idealist, ‘the high attractiveness of tourist property for investment has been reflected in significant absorption of the supply available on the market’. It states that, still, at the end of March 2025 there were 131 tourist establishments for sale in Portugal, which represents a 28% reduction compared to the same period of 2024, ie less 51 hotel units.

And he recalls that half of the national offer focuses on only three districts: Faro (with 34 units), Porto (16) and Lisbon (15). “Still, the hotel shop continues to present business opportunities throughout almost the entire national territory, including in the islands, with at least one establishment available for sale in virtually all districts. The only exception is Bragança, where no hotel announcement was recorded for sale during this period », he stresses

Between March 2024 and March 2025, there was a reduction in the offer of tourist buildings for sale in most districts and islands of the country, with breaks on 13 of the 20 districts and islands analyzed. «The descents stand out in the districts of Porto (-12 units), Setúbal (-7) and Lisbon (-6), as well as in the regions of Madeira and Portalegre (both with -5). In Évora, Coimbra and Vila Real, the offer remained stable. On the other hand, only four districts recorded an increase in tourist real estate in the market: guard (4 more units), Aveiro (plus 3), Beja (plus 2) and Castelo Branco (plus 1) », he says.

Bet on long -term lease

Another hypotheses to increase the supply of the housing market, namely in the matter of lease involves converting the properties, so far intended for local accommodation, to long -term lease. A change that has captivated some owners contacted by the sunrise and there are those who really choose to sell the properties to families looking for home.

Having a fixed monthly yield has been back to the lords who have been surrendered for a few years to tourism. « When betting on local accommodation depended on the oscillations of demand and the prices practiced at certain times of the year and although the performance was higher, it was not always yielded the value that was expecting because I had the house completely closed for weeks, which meant I did not receive any value in these days, » confesses one owner.

Add to the oscillation of the tourism market must also count on the expenses associated with those who allocate their properties to this sector. “I was always concerned about the expenses associated with the use of the property, from cleaning to the arrangement of any material or appliance, not to mention the headache whenever there was a condominium meeting because there were always complaints of the noise or simply because someone was wrong with the bell. These concerns were left behind. Now I get less, but I have more tranquility and a fixed income, ”he reveals.

Admittedly, this activity continues to have weight in the domestic market. According to the latest data released by the Local Accommodation Association in Portugal (Alep), there are about 120,000 records, but not all are active. “Most are small operators and are the ones who do all business management. They are qualified people, 91% have higher education and they contact guests, that is, they value their own tourist offer. Local accommodation was fundamental not only to serve as a base pillar for tourism growth, but also brought diversity and strengthened fate.