Renting in Portugal: Protecting Rental Deposits

Petição dirigida a: tenants in Portugal

This petition is about creating a fairer and safer rental experience in Portugal by addressing a widespread concern: rental deposits being unfairly withheld by landlords.

Many tenants have experienced or fear losing their deposit without justification. Currently, there is no neutral, trusted system for holding rental deposits - landlords usually keep them directly, with no safeguards or oversight.

We are asking:

Would you support or prefer a rental system where deposits are held by an independent, secure third party — rather than by the landlord?

We would like to provide an escrow-style solution where rental deposits are:

• Held securely and neutrally,
• Only released by mutual agreement or proof of contract breach,
• Designed to protect both tenants and landlords.

This petition is to measure support and awareness of the issue — and to show that people in Portugal want a more trustworthy way to handle rental deposits.