Porto wants to increase the value of IMI on vacant buildings in the Historic Center by "10 times"

The Porto City Council plans to propose a tenfold increase in the IMI tax on vacant properties in the Historic Center starting in 2027. Mayor Pedro Duarte announced this measure to encourage property owners to rent or sell their vacant buildings. Currently, there are 6,400 identified vacant properties in the area. The council aims to promote the rehabilitation and market placement of these buildings. A previous notification to owners highlighted potential tax increases for non-compliance, with penalties ranging from three to ten times the current IMI rate depending on urban pressure. The annual process for declaring properties as vacant has seen increasing numbers of affected buildings in recent years.