Broken Elevators Trap Elderly Residents in Lisbon Buildings for Months

Hundreds of Lisbon Residents Stranded by Faulty Elevators

Hundreds of residents in Gebalis buildings on Av. Mouzinho de Albuquerque in Lisbon have been living without functional elevators since the beginning of the year. "If ours worked for two weeks since January, that was a lot," Paulo Santos told CM, explaining that the elevator serves both his building and the adjacent one, both seven stories high.

Elderly Residents Trapped at Home

"There are many elderly people who are stuck at home because the elevator isn't working," Santos stated. "I have an elderly neighbor who undergoes hemodialysis and suffers every time she has to go for treatment."

According to this resident, the elevator is "very old" and, even when repaired, breaks down again quickly. "Sometimes it's because a part is missing, then it's because the maintenance company changed—there are always excuses," he said.

Gebalis Responds with Repair Promise

When questioned by CM, the municipal housing company expressed "total understanding of the inconvenience and impact that the elevator breakdowns at Av. Mouzinho de Albuquerque, No. 71, are causing residents, particularly the elderly and people with reduced mobility."

Gebalis guarantees that "repairs for four of the elevators on Av. Mouzinho de Albuquerque are scheduled by October 10," just two days before the municipal elections.

Root Causes and Investment Claims

"This intervention will be complemented by work on the machine room roofs and the doors to the elevator shaft corridors, as the breakdowns are mostly related to leaks originating from these two locations."

Gebalis also assures that investment in elevator maintenance nearly doubled between 2022 and 2025 to 13.5 million euros compared to 2018-2021. However, this amount apparently does not ensure the equipment functions regularly.