The lists of candidates admitted and excluded under the 2015 phase of the Lease Incentive Scheme have already been published; the application period ran in the months of August and September.

A total 638 applications were submitted: 481 concern a first application and 157 concern a second application. In the latter case, beneficiaries had been receiving support since September 2010. Overall, the Government has approved 548 applications, which represents an approval rate of 86%, i.e., one of the highest under this measure.

The results may be consulted at the Regional Directorate for Housing, the local Housing Services and at the Citizen Support Integrated Network (RIAC). They are also available on the Portal of the Regional Government at the address http://www.azores.gov.pt/Portal/pt/entidades/srss-drh/ textoImagem / Concursos.htm.

Interested parties have 10 days after the publication of the lists to pronounce on the provisional results, after which they will become final. The support will be awarded from February 2016.

Under this programme, the Regional Government currently supports more than 1,100 families in a monthly pubic investment over 200 thousand Euros.

The amount of support can reach 70% of the maximum amount of authorised lease in accordance with the socio-economic characteristics of each family.

Moreover, the Regional Government has increased the support for rented property on the so-called "Cohesion islands" as well as for single-parent families, families with children and families disabled members.

Recently, the rules of the Families with Future programme have been amended. As for the Lease Incentive Scheme, the beneficiaries who have reached the five-year period under this measure will have the possibility to extend the financial support for a new application period. Moreover, they will provide families with the opportunity to improve their financial independence. The rules introduced to the financial model are fairer, being adjusted to the socio-economic characteristics of the beneficiary families.

Under this amendment, 157 families were able to submit their application in a second phase, which give them the possibility to benefit from an additional five-year period of support.
 
With this measure, the Government of the Azores aims to contribute to the improvement of the housing conditions of Azorean families, through the access to adequate housing in accordance with their income, and to the financial independence of beneficiaries. It also provides a stimulus to the regional housing market.