‘Illegal invasion and occupation of properties: what changed on 24 November?’ (by Neuza Pereira de Campos and Henrique Varino da Silva)

Law No. 67/2025 (‘Law’) was published on 24 November 2025, strengthening the protection of property rights by increasing the consequences of illegal occupation of real estate, amending the Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure. What changes, after all, with the new legislation? We explain everything about this topic with legal basis.

The law comes in the wake of significant growth in the invasion and misuse of properties (vacant or in use) belonging to either the State or private individuals, by individuals or organised groups who, taking advantage of legislative loopholes and excessive bureaucracy, occupied or exploited these properties economically, on the one hand, and on the other hand, the number of vacant and unsafe properties, with easy access, for a variety of reasons, unfortunately attractive for the practice of such behaviour.

This phenomenon, popularly known as “squatting”, prompted the legislator to broaden the scope of the crime of unlawful occupation of property and to provide for mechanisms allowing for the immediate return of the property to its owner, explains the Real Estate Department of SRS Lega (Neuza Pereira de Campos and Henrique Varino da Silva, respectively Partner in charge and Associate of the Real Estate Law Department at SRS Legal) in this article prepared for idealista/news.