# How to take part in the housing movement in Portugal > Get your building together, join a tenants’ association and a union, take to the streets, spread the word and have your say in public consultations. Five steps to getting organised. URL: https://habitacao-alt.bytetoit.com/en/take-part/ Language: en-GB Last updated: 2026-10-28 Other languages: pt: https://habitacao-alt.bytetoit.com/participa.md, es: https://habitacao-alt.bytetoit.com/es/participa.md, eu: https://habitacao-alt.bytetoit.com/eu/parte-hartu.md, fr: https://habitacao-alt.bytetoit.com/fr/participer.md, it: https://habitacao-alt.bytetoit.com/it/partecipa.md, el: https://habitacao-alt.bytetoit.com/el/symmetochi.md, de: https://habitacao-alt.bytetoit.com/de/mach-mit.md, cs: https://habitacao-alt.bytetoit.com/cs/zapoj-se.md, pl: https://habitacao-alt.bytetoit.com/pl/dzialaj.md, ca: https://habitacao-alt.bytetoit.com/ca/participa.md, gl: https://habitacao-alt.bytetoit.com/gl/participa.md --- Take part # How to take part You don’t need any experience, and you don’t need to belong to a party. All it takes is neighbours, workmates and the will to change things. Start here. ## Everything starts with getting organised No one can fix this alone. Want to start a group where you live, or sign your organisation up to these demands? Get in touch. [Get in touch](mailto:direito.habitacao@proton.me) 1 ### Get your building or street together Talk to your neighbours, start a group and compare rents, leases and problems. Knowing what everyone pays is where your power starts. 2 ### Join a tenants’ association and a union A tenants’ association helps with your lease and rent; a union, with your pay and working conditions. [Find an organisation](https://habitacao-alt.bytetoit.com/en/take-part/#inquilinos). 3 ### Take to the streets Join the demonstrations and local actions for the right to housing. Every one counts, in big cities and small towns alike. 4 ### Spread the word Share the figures on this site, talk about your own situation, print posters and bring the debate to your school, workplace and residents’ association. And ask your MPs and your local council what they are doing about it. 5 ### Have your say in public consultations Urban plans, large developments and other projects that change the land go to public consultation. On the [Participa](https://participa.pt/) portal you can see the ones that are open and have your say. At home and at work ## Two organisations, more bargaining power ### Tenants’ association Learn your rights, get legal support and don’t face a rent rise or an eviction alone. Tenants who organise negotiate from a much stronger position. ### Trade union Advice, protection from retaliation and weight at the table when negotiating wages that can actually pay for a home. This list is for information only: the organisations and services listed aren’t necessarily linked to this campaign. Know of one that should be here? Let us know. ## Tenants’ associations ### [Associação dos Inquilinos Lisbonenses](https://www.ail.pt) Lisbon. Information and legal support for members. ail.pt ### [Associação dos Inquilinos e Condóminos do Norte de Portugal](https://www.aicnp.pt) Northern Portugal. Free legal advice for members. aicnp.pt ## Housing movements ### [Vida Justa](https://vidajusta.org) Movement born in Lisbon’s outer neighbourhoods, fighting for housing and against the rising cost of living. vidajusta.org CPV ### [Casa Para Viver](https://www.casaparaviver.pt) National platform of movements and collectives that calls the big housing demonstrations. casaparaviver.pt ### [Porta a Porta: Casa para Todos](https://www.portaaporta.pt) National housing movement with local groups in several cities. portaaporta.pt ### [Habita!](https://habita.info) Association for the right to housing and to the city. habita.info SD ### [Stop Despejos](https://www.instagram.com/stopdespejos/) Collective that supports people facing eviction. instagram.com/stopdespejos ### [Movimento Referendo pela Habitação](https://referendopelahabitacao.pt) Non-partisan movement of Lisbon residents calling for a local referendum on short-term lets. referendopelahabitacao.pt ### [Morar em Lisboa](https://moraremlisboa.org) Movement for a new housing policy and a city for everyone. moraremlisboa.org ## Tent camps and assemblies Since October, there have been tent camps and people’s assemblies for housing in several cities. Follow the one near you to find out when they meet: - [Porto Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/acampadaporto/) - [Lisbon Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/acampada.lisboa/) - [Braga Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/acampadabraga/) - [Aveiro Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/acampadaaveiro/) - [Castelo Branco Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/acampada.castelobranco/) - [Setúbal Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/acampada.setubal/) - [Évora Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/acampada.evora/) - [Faro Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/acampada.faro/) ## Trade union confederations ### [CGTP-IN](https://www.cgtp.pt) General Confederation of Portuguese Workers. Find the union for your sector. cgtp.pt ### [UGT](https://www.ugt.pt) General Workers’ Union. Find the union for your sector. ugt.pt ## Public information and support ### [Portal da Habitação](https://www.portaldahabitacao.pt) Public housing schemes, such as Porta 65 Jovem (rent support for young people) and the affordable rent programme. portaldahabitacao.pt ### [Segurança Social: legal aid](https://www.seg-social.pt) Apply for legal aid if you can’t afford a lawyer. seg-social.pt ### [Provedor de Justiça](https://www.provedor-jus.pt) The Ombudsman: complain about a public body, free of charge. provedor-jus.pt ## FAQ **I’ve received an eviction or non-renewal letter. What should I do?** Don’t move out or sign anything until you’ve got advice. Contact a tenants’ association as soon as you can and check the deadlines in the letter. If you can’t afford a lawyer, you can apply to Social Security (Segurança Social) for legal aid. **My landlord wants to put the rent up. Is that allowed?** It depends on your type of lease and the size of the increase. Annual increases are capped by law. Before you agree to anything, ask a [tenants’ association](https://habitacao-alt.bytetoit.com/en/take-part/#inquilinos) for help. **Can I get into trouble for joining a union?** No. The right to join a union is protected by the Constitution and the Labour Code. Retaliation for union activity is illegal. **Where can I complain about a public body?** To the Ombudsman (Provedor de Justiça), who deals with complaints about public bodies, including on housing matters, free of charge. **Do I have to belong to a party?** No. This campaign is open to anyone who supports the right to housing, whoever they vote for. **I own my home with a mortgage. Is this for me too?** Yes. Rising interest rates and prices hit buyers too, and your children and neighbours face the same impossible rents. Housing is everyone’s problem. **How do I start a group in my building or neighbourhood?** Start small: a chat with your neighbours, a sheet listing everyone’s rent and lease, a messaging group. Then call an open meeting. Email us at [direito.habitacao@proton.me](mailto:direito.habitacao@proton.me) and we’ll help with materials and contacts. **My organisation wants to endorse the demands. What do we do?** Email [direito.habitacao@proton.me](mailto:direito.habitacao@proton.me) with your organisation’s name, town and contact details.