The rules for the implementation of types of support, announced by the Azorean Government, for the acquisition and allocation of 390 houses in the Azores have already become available.
Published in the Official Journal yesterday, the rules that establish the two applications enable, starting now, the submission of applications by companies and citizens for the supports provided by the Government.
The “Allocation of houses” (Atribuição de Casas) competition for permanent home ownership, on lease scheme with a purchase option, is intended to reduce the difficult access to bank credit in a period of crisis.
With the Government’s support, Azorean families can purchase a house (1, 2 or 3-bedroom house) on a lease scheme with a purchase option.
Citizens who are over eighteen, citizens with a household that does not surpass six members, making up to 21 thousand Euros per capita/year and for which, the effort rate of the respective household is at or below 56% are eligible applicants for this programme.
The applications to this support will be sorted out according to the household’s effort rate, to the household’s gross income per capita, and the average age of the household members who have incomes. Priority will be awarded to the applicants whose household includes elderly or disabled people.
The “Allocation of housing” competition involves individuals and companies which are associated to the construction sector and to the real estate mediation.
The rules that establishes this support encourages a fair and balanced competition within the sector, particularly through the calculation of the percentage that will be applied to the Book Value Tax, that is, the most valued proposals will be those that present the smallest percentages to be applied to the Book Value Tax, thereby stipulating a base value for selling buildings, which cannot exceed 110 thousand Euros for a 1-bedroom house, 125 thousand Euros for a 2-bedroom house and 135 thousand Euros for a 3-bedroom house.
With this measure, companies will obtain a greater liquidity to continue their business activity by selling the available houses, while enabling an easier access to housing to the applicants for the “Allocation of housing” competition.
Any individual or legal person may apply for this support, who own the houses proposal and, entities that are engaged the construction sector as well as in the real estate mediation, even if they do not own houses for proposal.
The Azorean Government intends to acquire a maximum of 390 houses, including 250 houses on São Miguel, 70 on Terceira, 40 on Faial, and 30 on the Islands of São Jorge, Graciosa, Santa Maria, Flores and Corvo.
The applications, as well as the rules and additional information are under the responsibility of the SPRHI, S.A. (Promotion and Renewal of Housing and Infrastructures, Anonymous Society). 
Applicants should directly send their applications to the Promotion and Renewal of Housing and Infrastructures, Anonymous Society (SPRHI, S.A.) until 20 days after the publication in the Official Journal in case of the “Allocation of housing” competition and, until 45 days in the case of the “Allocation of housing” competition on a lease scheme with a purchase option.
The rules and complementary information regarding these support measures may be directly requested at the SPRHI, S.A. in Rua do Pasteleiro no 30 – A – in the municipality of Horta, by telephone 292 200 570, fax 292299578 or via Internet through the email [email protected] or at the Portal of the Regional Government of the Azores at www.azores.gov.pt.
The rules of the “Allocation of housing” competition are also available at all the RIAC (Integrated Network for Citizen Support) centres, which will also provide all the complementary information, helping citizens to fill their applications.