In response to allegations of affordable apartments being sold to higher-income individuals, the São Paulo Public Prosecutor's Office has prompted a new requirement for construction companies to display prominent advertising at affordable housing developments. This measure was instituted by the municipal government through recent ordinances from the Municipal Housing Secretariat aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability in housing projects intended for low-income residents.

The new regulations, which took effect after the public announcements last December and in February, stipulate that construction companies must use various forms of advertising, including signage, social media posts, television ads, pamphlets, and sales stands, to clearly identify developments as affordable housing options. The goal is to highlight the availability of these units and to guarantee that they are marketed specifically to the low-income demographic they are designed to support.

Failure to comply with these regulations will lead to significant penalties for the violating companies, which may include the suspension, revocation, or annulment of licenses, as well as the potential loss of tax incentives related to their affordable housing projects. These measures reflect the city's commitment to maintaining affordable housing integrity and ensuring that assistance designed for economically disadvantaged citizens is not misappropriated by those who do not qualify.