There are abandoned properties all over Puerto Rico that the government can actually help you buy, and in 2026 the law behind that just changed. If you’ve dreamed of taking a crumbling house and bringing it back to life, this is worth understanding before you chase one. Here’s what’s new, dated and specific.

What legally counts as an estorbo público?

An estorbo público is a property a municipality has formally declared a public nuisance. That word, declared, is the whole game. A neglected-looking house is not automatically an estorbo, and you can’t buy it through this process until the municipality has run the declaration. As of 2026, the governing framework is the Código Municipal (Ley 107-2020), amended by Ley 114-2024, and most recently by Ley 97-2026, signed June 1, 2026.

What did Ley 97-2026 change?

Read this twice, because it widens the door: Ley 97-2026 expanded municipal powers and timelines and clarified that piled-up junk, debris, and heavy trash can now justify a declaration, not just structural problems. It also streamlined how owners get notified, largely through municipal reports and online notices. For the diaspora, that means more properties can move into the declared inventory, and the process is meant to move faster.

Is this a shortcut to a cheap house?

The part this post can’t fully give you

Knowing the law changed is the start. The full picture is the three legal pathways, the deposits and percentages, the inventory, and the due diligence that keeps a dream from becoming a money pit.

Educational only, not legal advice. Estorbo rules are set by each municipio and change. Confirm current rules with the municipality and a licensed PR attorney.