# How to take part in the fight for housing in Portugal > Get your building together, join a tenants’ association and a union, take to the streets and spread the word. Four steps to getting organised. URL: https://habitacao.bytetoit.com/en/take-part/ Language: en-GB Last updated: 2026-10-26 Other languages: pt: https://habitacao.bytetoit.com/participa.md, es: https://habitacao.bytetoit.com/es/participa.md, eu: https://habitacao.bytetoit.com/eu/parte-hartu.md, fr: https://habitacao.bytetoit.com/fr/participer.md, it: https://habitacao.bytetoit.com/it/partecipa.md, el: https://habitacao.bytetoit.com/el/symmetochi.md, de: https://habitacao.bytetoit.com/de/mach-mit.md, cs: https://habitacao.bytetoit.com/cs/zapoj-se.md, pl: https://habitacao.bytetoit.com/pl/dzialaj.md, ca: https://habitacao.bytetoit.com/ca/participa.md, gl: https://habitacao.bytetoit.com/gl/participa.md --- Take part # How to take part You don’t need any experience, and you don’t need to belong to a party. All it takes is neighbours, workmates and the will to change things. Start here. Citizens’ Legislative Initiative ## The law is yours too With 20,000 signatures, any group of citizens can put a bill before Parliament. The Acampada pela Habitação, the movement behind the tent camps, is drafting one, and wants to hear from you: what is the biggest housing problem, and what would you change in the law? 1 ### Have your say Answer the survey and come to the open sessions around the country. A committee of 5 to 10 people drafts the bill from what people say. 2 ### Sign 20,000 voters sign the proposal. 3 ### To Parliament The bill goes to the Assembleia da República to be debated and voted on. Parliament has admitted 14 citizens’ initiatives so far, and approved 8. [Answer the survey](https://cryptpad.fr/form/#/2/form/view/Gwwywk32Z8XpK6HOOoFDRhpwvEnqHV9m6V-AJxhc9qE/) · [ILC website](https://ilc-habitacao.sites.deploybase.eu/) Both are in Portuguese. The survey is end-to-end encrypted and can be answered anonymously. Contact: [ilc-habitacao@proton.me](mailto:ilc-habitacao@proton.me) ### What the tent camps are demanding - Repeal the 2012 rent law - Stop evictions - Ban vulture funds from buying homes - More public housing - Bring empty buildings back into use as homes - Caps on rents How to take part ## Everything starts with getting organised No one can fix this alone. Want to start a group where you live, or sign your organisation up to these demands? Get in touch. [How to take part](https://habitacao.bytetoit.com/en/take-part/) · [Get in touch](mailto:contacto@habitacao.bytetoit.com) 1 ### Get your building or street together Talk to your neighbours, start a group and compare rents, leases and problems. Knowing what everyone pays is where your power starts. 2 ### Join a tenants’ association and a union Being in both protects you from your landlord and your boss. [Find an organisation](https://habitacao.bytetoit.com/en/get-organised/). 3 ### Take to the streets Join the demonstrations and local actions for the right to housing. Every one counts, in big cities and small towns alike. 4 ### Spread the word Share the figures on this site, talk about your own situation, print posters and bring the debate to your school, workplace and residents’ association. Join both ## To win, organise at home and at work ### Tenants’ association Learn your rights, get legal support and deal with your landlord together. Tenants who organise negotiate from a much stronger position. ### Trade union Advice, protection from retaliation and the collective strength to win wages that can actually pay for a home. [Find your organisation](https://habitacao.bytetoit.com/en/get-organised/) ## Questions **Do I have to belong to a party?** No. This campaign is open to anyone who supports the right to housing, whoever they vote for. **I own my home with a mortgage. Is this for me too?** Yes. Rising interest rates and prices hit buyers too, and your children and neighbours face the same impossible rents. Housing is everyone’s problem. **How do I start a group in my building or neighbourhood?** Start small: a chat with your neighbours, a sheet listing everyone’s rent and lease, a messaging group. Then call an open meeting. Email us at [contacto@habitacao.bytetoit.com](mailto:contacto@habitacao.bytetoit.com) and we’ll help with materials and contacts. **My organisation wants to endorse the demands. What do we do?** Send us your organisation’s name, town and a contact at [contacto@habitacao.bytetoit.com](mailto:contacto@habitacao.bytetoit.com).