2026 academic year in Portugal: Facing the crisis, homestay becomes the go-to solution

As we approach the start of the 2026 academic year in September, 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 headache. Between the easygoing lifestyle of Lisbon and the energy of Porto, the country continues to attract more young people, but infrastructure is struggling to keep up. At Roomlala, we support thousands of students with their mobility each year, and we are finding that the search for a roof over one's head is more complex than ever this year.

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

Read also: Mobility lease 2026: 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 exist, and the Portuguese government has implemented emergency measures for the 2026 school year. Most importantly, new accommodation alternatives are gaining traction. Renting a room in a homestay is now proving to be the safest, warmest, and most economical option. Let’s discover 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 tension

Shortage of public beds and delays in the recovery plan

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

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

This structural shortage forces families to rethink their plans and their budget. The Portuguese government is trying to compensate for this delay with financial aid, but the reality on the ground shows that the supply of traditional housing is no longer enough. It is therefore essential to think outside the box and explore alternative solutions to find decent accommodation 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 country's two largest cities, which concentrate the majority of university hubs.

If you are looking for shared housing in Lisbon, be prepared 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. Traditional landlords often demand solid guarantors, months of security deposit, and prioritize young professionals with stable incomes. It is in this context of extreme tension that the homestay model stands out, offering flexibility and rates much more in line with the student reality.

State financial aid: what is changing for the 2026 academic year

The DGES Accommodation Supplement for scholarship students

To cope with the housing crisis in Portugal, the government has had to react strongly. The General Directorate of Higher Education (DGES) has thus revised its aid mechanisms upwards for the 2026 school year. The Accommodation Supplement (Complemento de Alojamento), intended specifically for scholarship students known as displaced students (who study 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 with real private market prices. This is excellent news for scholarship recipients, but at Roomlala, we would like to raise a crucial point of vigilance: to receive this supplement, the student must provide an official rental agreement 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 program. It is therefore vital to avoid the informal market. By using a secure platform that encourages legal contracting, you ensure you can put together your scholarship application properly and receive your aid without any trouble.

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 mechanism is aimed at a wider public: young people aged 18 to 35, whether they are students or young professionals. In 2026, faced with the urgency of the situation, the government has significantly relaxed the eligibility criteria for this program to reach as many struggling tenants as possible.

The Porta 65 Jovem covers part of the rent for several months, thus easing the monthly budget. However, just as with DGES aid, tax transparency is the cornerstone of the system. Applicants must present a lease agreement 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 listed on the lease or has their own room contract.

We notice 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, the Porta 65 is a powerful financial lever. It helps make a room that seemed overpriced at first glance affordable, provided that you always choose the legal route.

Why a homestay is the ideal solution in 2026

More affordable rents in the face of skyrocketing prices

In this real estate turmoil, renting a room in a homestay stands out as the obvious choice. At Roomlala, we observe that the rates charged by private 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 unpleasant surprises at the end of the month, a non-negligible luxury when you know how much the cost of energy has increased in recent years. It is a perfect turnkey solution for a student arriving in a new city.

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

The impact of the restriction on Alojamento Local licenses

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

This legal constraint has had an unexpected and very positive effect for students: many property owners 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 made it possible to inject thousands of new, quality rooms onto 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 restores meaning to real estate rental and recreates intergenerational or intercultural social ties.

How to succeed in your search and secure your housing with Roomlala

Finding your future home 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 rise of scams on social media, using a trusted third party is no longer an option; it is an absolute necessity to protect your money.

To give yourself every chance of success in your search for student housing in Portugal in 2026, we advise you to adopt a rigorous method. Fill out your profile carefully, explain your study project, and show hosts that you are a serious and respectful tenant. The human dimension is essential in homestay rentals: the host is looking above all for a trusted person with whom to live harmoniously.

Here are some concrete tips to optimize your search:

• Anticipate as much as possible: Do not wait for your final exam results to start contacting hosts. The best rooms are taken as early as June.
• Prioritize verified profiles: On Roomlala, we verify the identity of our members. Trust the reviews left by previous tenants to get an idea of the atmosphere.
• Demand a contract: As mentioned previously, ask from the first contact if the host 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 central Lisbon or Porto is too expensive, look at neighboring cities that are well-served by public transport (such as Almada, Sintra, or Vila Nova de Gaia).

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