Rental market demand skyrockets 250% in Portugal

Demand for rental housing in Portugal grew by 256.1% between February and April 2026, compared to the same period of the previous year, registering even more significant growth than that observed in the purchase market (+150.4%) according to figures from online estate agency Imovirtual.

The growth was consistent throughout the three months analysed, with no signs of slowing down. February accounted for 35.9% of quarterly demand and registered a year-on-year growth of +299.7%, while March represented 37.4% of the total (+282.5%). April closed the period with 26.7% of quarterly demand and growth of +186.3%.

The data shows that, although Lisbon and Porto continue to concentrate a significant portion of national demand, rental growth is also accelerating outside traditional markets.

Lisbon remains the most sought-after district, representing 17.0% of national demand in 2026, followed by Porto with 9.2%. However, both slightly lost relative market share compared to the previous year, while Braga emerges as the only district in the top 10 to gain weight in the market, rising from 2.6% to 2.8% of national demand and registering a year-on-year growth of +280.8%.

At the municipal level, Lisbon continues to lead with 7.81% of national demand, followed by Porto (4.04%) and Sintra (1.80%). Even so, Cascais stands out as the main surprise among the large municipalities, increasing its demand share from 1.03% to 1.40% and registering a year-on-year growth of +381.7% in the number of searches.

Matosinhos and Coimbra, although not in the top 10, also show growth in national demand. Matosinhos went from 0.69% to 0.75%, while Coimbra rose from 1.14% to 1.18%. Porto, in turn, maintains practically the same demand share, increasing from 4.02% to 4.04%, growing at the same pace as the market.

Source: Imovirtual; Credits: Supplied