A protest for housing rights is set for Funchal on Saturday, November 14. The Terreiro das Lutas group and the Plataforma Casas para Viver Madeira are organizing the march. It joins a national day of mobilization, with protests planned in more than 30 Portuguese cities.
The announcement comes as regional data shows home prices in Madeira climbing sharply. The island now ranks among the most expensive regions in the country.
Protest to Start at 17:00 in Praça do MunicĂpio
The demonstration gathers at 17:00, in Praça do MunicĂpio, Funchal's main square. From there, protesters march to the Assembleia Legislativa da Madeira, the regional parliament.
The final rally takes place outside the parliament building. The event also includes performances by Tiago Sena, Cristiano LuĂs, Catarina and the Coro Popular choir.
Housing Prices Jumped 18.3 Percent in the Second Quarter
The protest comes amid worsening conditions in Madeira's housing market. The Regional Directorate of Statistics of Madeira (DREM), using data from the national statistics institute INE, tracks the median price of family homes sold in the region.
In the second quarter of 2026 alone, that median reached 2,816 euros per square meter. It is an 18.3 percent rise from the same quarter last year, close to the 18.4 percent national increase over the same period.
Regional Median Reaches 2,690 Euros per Square Meter
Looking at the full 12 months, the median price in Madeira stood at 2,690 euros per square meter. That is above the national figure of 2,264 euros.
The gap shows Madeira's housing costs running well ahead of the country as a whole.
| Madeira | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Last 12 months, per m² | €2,690 | €2,264 |
| Funchal median, per m² | €3,538 | n/a |
| Bank valuation, July 2026 | €2,598 ▲ +16.3% | n/a |
Madeira Ranks Fourth Highest Among Portugal's Regions
Over the same 12-month period, Madeira posted the fourth highest median price among Portugal's regions. Only Greater Lisbon, the Algarve and the SetĂşbal Peninsula recorded higher values.
Funchal Price Reaches 3,538 Euros, Eighth Nationally
Within the region, Funchal shows the steepest prices. The municipality's median reached 3,538 euros per square meter, putting it eighth in the national ranking of municipalities.
Bank Valuations Rose 16.3 Percent Since Last July
Bank appraisals point the same way. In July 2026, the median bank valuation in the region reached 2,598 euros per square meter, a 16.3 percent rise from July 2025.
More Than 30 Cities Join the Nationwide Protest Day
Saturday's march is part of a wider wave of unrest. The national platform Casa para Viver brings together about 100 associations and collectives.
It called for protests in more than 30 cities. The demands include market regulation, lower rents and stronger protection for tenants.
The platform criticized Prime Minister LuĂs Montenegro's government, saying his policies have failed to resolve the housing crisis.
Among its demands are the reversal of recent changes to the rental law, caps on rents, and restrictions on real estate funds buying residential property. Madeira saw a similar cost-of-living protest in Funchal last month, part of an earlier round of nationwide demonstrations.
In their call for Saturday's march, the organizers point to a growing number of people who cannot afford rent, buy a home or find decent, affordable housing.
They argue that no one should have to choose between paying for housing and meeting other daily needs.
A Madeira where staying is a right, not a privilege.
Terreiro das Lutas and Plataforma Casas para Viver Madeira
Source: jm-madeira.pt
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