Hundreds of houses inherited by emigrants sit empty in Graciosa

The legacy of decades of emigration

Waves of emigration to the United States and Canada left shuttered family homes in Santa Cruz da Graciosa.

Shared inheritances, stalled decisions

Many houses are held in shared inheritance among several relatives whose ties grow ever weaker.

Shuttered houses, emptying villages

Occupied houses sit alongside others that are shuttered, visited only in summer.

Attempts to bring the empty stock back to life

Some agencies are reaching out to Azorean emigrant communities to bring this heritage stock to market.

Remembering the great emigration

Between the 1950s and 1970s, thousands of Graciosenses left for New England and eastern Canada in search of better opportunities. Many families left their homes behind meaning to return, an intention that in most cases never came to pass. That exodus left a visible mark on Santa Cruz da Graciosa, where year-round occupied homes sit alongside others that remain shut for most of the time.

Comparison with other islands in the central group

The phenomenon of inherited, shuttered houses is repeated, albeit less intensely, on other islands in the central group such as São Jorge or Pico. What sets Graciosa apart is its small size, which makes the proportion of empty homes stand out far more within the total housing stock. This concentration makes the island a frequent case study for those analysing the property impact of the Azorean diaspora.

The legal obstacles of shared inheritance

Local notaries explain that a good many of these homes are registered in the names of several heirs, some of them born outside Portugal with little emotional attachment to the property. Reaching unanimous agreement to sell or let can take years, especially when the heirs live in different countries and hold differing views on the property's future. This legal situation accounts for much of the shuttered housing stock that exists on the island today.

New avenues for reviving the heritage stock

Some estate agencies have begun organising meetings with Azorean emigrant associations in Massachusetts and Ontario, aiming to facilitate the sale or long-term let of these properties. Interest from European buyers in traditional stone houses offers a partial way out of the problem, though progress is slow. For now, most of these homes are still waiting on a family decision that is a long time coming.