Angra do Heroísmo faces a growing problem in the housing rental market. What previously seemed to be a reality only associated with large urban centers is beginning to take on worrying proportions, in a scenario where wages are struggling to keep pace with rising prices, explains Tânia Abreu, a resident teacher on Terceira Island. Currently, “the rent for a two-bedroom apartment with no expenses included and often without a lease agreement is between €800 and €1,300, which is completely unaffordable for middle-class and single-parent families,” she adds.

In a reality where the teaching profession is increasingly devalued, the number of teachers per educational institution is declining, with many professionals forced to work outside their locality or region. Although there is financial support for displaced teachers, in the 2024/2025 school year, only 2,807 teachers were supported by the measure. In addition to the low attractiveness of the career, the associated costs (including rent) discourage teachers.

A resident of Angra do Heroísmo for seven years, Tânia Abreu is a 44-year-old teacher who lives with her teenage son. “It’s unsustainable, we’re talking about prices that don’t correspond to the reality of most families’ incomes in Terceira,” says the teacher. According to Tânia Abreu, the increase in property values associated with the rise in tourism and external demand is fueling speculation in the sector, something “that is directly reflected in rental contracts.” “The result is a clear discrepancy between the disposable income of families in Terceira and the costs they are forced to bear to secure decent housing,” explains the teacher.

For Tânia Abreu, the social consequences are impossible to ignore: “young people starting their working lives, couples wanting to start a family, and even elderly people on modest pensions are facing increasing difficulties in remaining in the city.” Faced with the local reality, many end up looking for alternatives in the outlying parishes, “where prices are still less inflated, albeit at the cost of longer commutes and loss of proximity to central services.”

The displaced teacher points out that “it is up to public authorities, in conjunction with civil society, to find solutions to halt this trend.” Tânia Abreu says that it is necessary to combat real estate speculation, “either through incentives for the construction and renovation of housing at controlled costs, or through the creation of regulatory mechanisms that prevent abusive practices.”

“Housing should not be seen as a mere consumer good subject to speculative logic, but as a fundamental right that guarantees stability, dignity, and social cohesion,” argues Tânia Abreu. The teacher’s warning is clear: living in Angra do Heroísmo cannot be “an inaccessible luxury for the people of Angra themselves and others who choose to make Angra their home.” “I believe urgent action is needed in this regard to ensure a dignified life for all, including those on lower incomes,” concludes the educator.

in Diário Insular, José Lourenço-director

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADE.