2026 back-to-school season in Portugal: Facing the crisis, homestay becomes the go-to solution

As September 2026 approaches, the excitement of heading off to study under the Portuguese sun often gives way to palpable anxiety for many families. Student housing in Portugal in 2026 has become a real puzzle. Between the easygoing lifestyle of Lisbon and the dynamism of Porto, the country attracts more and more young people, but infrastructure is struggling to keep up. At Roomlala, we assist thousands of students with their mobility each year, and we are finding that this year, finding a place to live is more complex than ever.

The housing crisis in Portugal is not a myth; it is a daily reality that hits young people leaving the family nest head-on. Public student residences are saturated, private market prices are skyrocketing, and students often find themselves helpless in the face of an ultra-competitive market. Finding shared housing in Lisbon or a student room in Porto can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. That is why we have decided to break down this unprecedented situation for you.

Read also: 2026 Mobility Lease: The legal framework for renting out your room with total flexibility, Porta 65 housing assistance in 2026: What young tenants and hosts need to know in Portugal and Renting out a room in your home in Ontario: Decoding the Residential Tenancies Act for 2026

Fortunately, solutions do exist, and the Portuguese government has implemented emergency measures for the start of the 2026 school year. Above all, new accommodation alternatives are gaining ground. Renting a homestay is now emerging as the safest, warmest, and most affordable option. Let's explore together how to navigate this tight real estate market and secure your academic year with complete peace of mind.

The student housing crisis in Portugal in 2026: a market under pressure

Shortage of public beds and delays in the recovery plan

The situation is clear for the start of the 2026 school year: Portugal is critically short of beds for its students. According to the latest government data, the major recovery plan (PRR) aimed at building new student residences has seen considerable delays. To date, only 27% of the student housing funded by this plan has been completed. This represents barely 5,014 beds delivered out of the 18,758 initially planned to relieve real estate pressure.

This deficit in public infrastructure leaves thousands of young people high and dry. Students from modest families, who were counting on these rent-controlled residences, are the first to be affected. At Roomlala, we receive many testimonies from students who, just weeks before the start of the school year, still have no residence placement and must urgently turn to the private market.

This structural shortage forces families to revise their plans and their budgets. The Portuguese state is attempting to compensate for this delay through financial aid, but the reality on the ground shows that the supply of traditional housing is no longer sufficient. It is therefore essential to think outside the box and explore alternative solutions to live with dignity without breaking the bank.

The explosion of rents in Lisbon and Porto

The direct consequence of this shortage is a historic surge in prices on the private market. In 2026, the average price of a student room easily exceeds the 400-euro mark nationally, according to recent figures from EDUSTAT. However, this average hides deep regional disparities, particularly in the two largest cities in the country, which concentrate the majority of university hubs.

If you are looking for shared housing in Lisbon, prepare for a budget shock. Rents in the capital now oscillate between 450 and over 600 euros for a single room. The situation is similar for a student room in Porto, where gentrification and strong demand have pushed prices to unprecedented heights. These amounts represent a disproportionate share of a student's monthly budget, making access to education increasingly unequal.

Faced with these prohibitive rates, the traditional long-term rental market has become inaccessible for many. Typical landlords often require solid guarantors, months of security deposit, and prefer young professionals with stable incomes. It is in this context of extreme tension that the homestay stands out, offering flexibility and rates that are much more in line with the student reality.

State financial aid: what is changing at the start of the 2026 school year

The DGES Accommodation Supplement for scholarship students

To deal with the housing crisis in Portugal, the government had to react strongly. The General Directorate for Higher Education (DGES) has therefore increased its aid schemes for the start of the 2026 school year. The Accommodation Supplement (Complemento de Alojamento), intended specifically for displaced scholarship students (those studying far from their family home), has benefited from a spectacular increase ranging from 8% to 38% depending on the geographical area.

This revaluation allows the aid to exceed 5,000 euros per year in the most expensive cities, thus aligning more closely with the actual prices of the private market. This is excellent news for scholarship recipients, but at Roomlala, we want to raise a crucial point of caution: to receive this supplement, the student must provide an official rental contract and electronic rent receipts, known as recibos de renda.

Let's take a concrete example: if you rent a room under the table, without a contract declared on the Portal das Finanças, you will be completely excluded from this DGES scheme. It is therefore vital to avoid the informal market. By going through a secure platform that encourages legal contracting, you ensure that you can put together your scholarship file correctly and receive your aid without any hitches.

The Porta 65 Jovem program: a breath of fresh air for young people

The other major pillar of housing aid in Portugal is the Porta 65 Jovem program. Unlike the DGES, which targets scholarship students, this scheme is aimed at a wider audience: young people aged 18 to 35, whether they are students or young professionals. In 2026, faced with the urgency of the situation, the government significantly relaxed the eligibility criteria for this program to reach as many tenants in difficulty as possible.

Porta 65 Jovem covers part of the rent for several months, thus relieving the monthly budget. However, just as with the DGES aid, tax transparency is the cornerstone of the system. Candidates must present a lease contract duly registered with the Portuguese tax authorities and justify their income or that of their guarantors. Shared housing is eligible, provided that each roommate is on the lease or has their own room contract.

We find that many foreign or local students are unaware of the existence of this aid or are discouraged by the administrative procedures. Yet, with a well-prepared file and a cooperative landlord who declares their rental income, Porta 65 is a powerful financial lever. It can make a room that seemed overpriced at first glance affordable, provided that you always choose the legal path.

Why is a homestay the ideal solution in 2026?

More affordable rents in the face of soaring prices

In this real estate turmoil, renting a homestay is an obvious choice. At Roomlala, we observe that the rates charged by individuals who open their doors are on average 20 to 30% cheaper than those of traditional real estate agencies or private residences. This price difference is explained by the absence of exorbitant agency fees and a desire for sharing rather than pure speculation.

Beyond the purely financial aspect, the value for money is often unbeatable. The rooms offered are generally furnished, equipped, and utilities (water, electricity, internet) are included in the rent. This avoids nasty surprises at the end of the month, a significant luxury when you consider how much energy costs have increased in recent years. It is a turnkey solution perfect for a student arriving in a new city.

In addition, living with a host offers rare flexibility. Whether you are looking for an Erasmus semester, for a full year, or even for a few months of internship, landlords are often more open to short- or medium-term leases. You avoid committing for a year with complex cancellation clauses, while benefiting from a comfortable and reassuring living environment.

The impact of the restriction on Alojamento Local licenses

A new phenomenon is strengthening the attractiveness of homestays in 2026: the drastic restriction of tourist licenses, called Alojamento Local (AL). To fight the housing crisis, the municipalities of Lisbon and Porto have frozen or cancelled many licenses in saturated urban areas. Landlords can no longer rent out their property by the night on tourist platforms.

This legal constraint has had an unexpected and very positive effect for students: many landlords are now turning to medium- and long-term rentals to make their unoccupied rooms profitable. This shift from the tourist market to the residential market has allowed thousands of new quality rooms to be added to platforms like Roomlala. Students thus benefit from accommodation that is often very well located, right in the city center, and perfectly maintained.

For hosts, it is also a way to return to more authentic values of hospitality. Hosting a student for the school year guarantees a fixed and regular income, without the hassles of daily hotel management. It is a true win-win partnership that gives meaning back to real estate rental and recreates intergenerational or intercultural social ties.

How to succeed in your search and secure your accommodation with Roomlala?

Finding your future nest from your home country or another city can be stressful. At Roomlala, our mission is to simplify your life and secure every step of your booking. Faced with the increase in scams on social networks, going through a trusted third party is no longer an option, it is an absolute necessity to protect your money.

To put all the chances on your side during your search for student housing in Portugal in 2026, we advise you to adopt a rigorous method. Carefully fill out your profile, explain your study project, and show landlords that you are a serious and respectful tenant. The human dimension is paramount in homestay rentals: the landlord is primarily looking for a trustworthy person to live with harmoniously.

Here are some concrete tips to optimize your search:

• Plan as much as possible: Do not wait for your final exam results to start contacting hosts. The best rooms go as early as June.
• Prioritize verified profiles: On Roomlala, we verify the identity of our members. Rely on the reviews left by previous tenants to get an idea of the atmosphere.
• Demand a contract: As mentioned previously, ask at the first point of contact if the landlord is willing to sign a legal contract and issue recibos de renda, which are essential for your DGES or Porta 65 aid.
• Broaden your search area: If the center of Lisbon or Porto is too expensive, look at neighboring cities with good public transport links (such as Almada, Sintra, or Vila Nova de Gaia).

By booking via our platform, your payment is secure until you arrive at the premises. You have 48 hours after receiving the keys to report any problem to us, which guarantees that you will never lose your funds to a fraudster. In 2026, the real estate crisis must not break your dreams of studying in Portugal. With the right help, the right method, and the warmth of a homestay, your university start will be a total success.