Ombudsman’s Office warns of flaws in the compensation scheme for landlords with contracts prior to 1990

The Ombudsman’s Office has asked the Secretary of State for Housing to intervene swiftly, with a view to correcting the flaws detected in the application of the compensation mechanism provided for in Decree-Law no. 132/2023, of 27 December, calling for the adoption of measures that guarantee effective and timely access to the compensation due to landlords, and avoid inequalities resulting from lower digital literacy.

Among the main concerns identified from a growing number of complaints are the difficulties in accessing this scheme, the significant delays in the payment of compensation, the exclusively digital nature of the procedure and the lack of effective support channels for applicants. Another aspect pointed out is the lack of legal provision for the payment of interest for delays in processing compensation, which aggravates the feeling of injustice among applicants.

The Ombudsman’s Office warns that exclusively digital access is not provided by law and is a real barrier to support, especially for older landlords with less digital skills.

In this context, the Secretary of State for Housing has been asked to intervene swiftly to correct the shortcomings detected. In particular, the Ombudsman’s Office advocates the urgent creation of alternatives to exclusively digital access and the introduction of a rule guaranteeing the payment of interest in cases where the State fails to comply with the legal deadlines it has set.

To read the full letter, click here [in Portuguese only].