Comprar as nossas próprias ruínas?

The article discusses the issue of municipalities in Portugal acquiring dilapidated state-owned properties at market prices, which hinders efforts to provide affordable housing. Local authorities aim to revitalize these assets but face bureaucratic obstacles and financial burdens. The current law requires municipalities to pay high prices for properties needing extensive renovations, which is seen as counterproductive to addressing housing shortages. The authors advocate for legal reforms to facilitate the rehabilitation of urban areas and improve public housing availability.