A/HRC/34/51/Add.2 While such regulations are welcome, there is certainly more that should be done to ensure city centres do not become an enclave for the wealthy and for foreigners. 67. The Special Rapporteur is mindful that, for the most part, those who offer rental accommodation are small landlords offering a single unit as an important source of their household’s income. She was also informed, however, that real estate agents and corporations take advantage of loopholes in laws and regulations to buy up and control a significant share of the short-term rental market. 6. Golden visas 68. With regard to foreign investment and the “financialization” of housing (see A/HRC/34/51), Portugal has introduced a scheme for “golden” visas (law No. 29/2012). Under the scheme, eligibility criteria can be met with the purchase of real estate property with a value equal to greater than 500,000 euros; the purchase of older properties located in urban regeneration areas for refurbishing, of a total value equal to or greater than 350,000 euros; or capital investment of 1 million euros or an investment that creates 30 jobs. Of the 3,888 visas issued between October 2012 and September 2016, 3,669 were given to thirdparty nationals acquiring real estate; only six were given to investors who created jobs. Although these investments account for only 0.06 per cent of housing stock in Portugal, the scheme brought in 2.37 billion euros, of which 2.14 billion from the purchase of real estate, putting pressure on the overall cost of housing in the country. 69. Despite the huge influx of capital, the golden visa scheme has not, in the view of the Special Rapporteur, proven to be beneficial to the people most in need in Portugal. It has not resulted in the creation of jobs, and not even a portion of its yields has been applied to develop affordable housing. In fact, the scheme, alongside other factors such scarcity of long-term rentals, easier access to credit to purchase housing for some, and low interest rates, may have exacerbated affordability issues for middle- and low-income households. Housing and rental prices are escalating at a rate that causes concern throughout urban centres. According to the figures released by Statistics Portugal, for example, in the period 2015-2016 alone, urban areas in Portugal witnessed a 5 to 10 per cent increase in real estate prices (such as in Amadora: 9.4 per cent; Porto: 7.2 per cent; and Lisbon: 5.2 per cent).21 IV. Discrimination and social exclusion A. Roma (Ciganos) 70. Portugal has constitutional limitations on the collection and disaggregation of data on several grounds, such as religion or ethnic origin (art. 35.3). The Roma community is variously estimated to have between 4,000 and 60,000 members. Most members of Roma communities (commonly referred to as Ciganos) are Portuguese citizens, and live on the coast and in Lisbon, Porto, Faro and Santarém. 22 71. The National Roma Communities Integration Strategy (2013-2020), implemented by the High Commission for Migration, was difficult to develop owing to the scarcity of information on such issues as housing and living conditions, education, health and 21 22 “Portuguese house prices continue to rise as its economy recovers”, Global Property Guide, 21 March 2016. Maria Helena Torres et al., Discrimination of Roma Communities: Portugal National Report, EAPN and ACIDI, Net-Kard Project, 2012. pp. 6-7. 15